Contraceptive use and sexual practice among young people in Sao Paulo

6872 households were visited by 16 trained interviewers to identify young people aged 15-24 in Sao Paulo. 804 interviews were completed with women and 750 with men using a questionnaire containing questions about socio-economic status and views about sex AIDS and drugs. Each group of interviewers completed about 500 interviews. 82.3% of males and 38.2% of females had premarital sex. 25.7% of women aged 15-19 and 72.6% of the same age had premarital sex. In the 20-24 age group the breakdown was: 53.5% for women and 93.2% for men. This rate compares unfavorably to data obtained in Mexico City where only 13.4% of women aged 15-19 and 39.1% of those aged 20-24 had premarital sex. The data for males was also low: 43.5% of 15-19 year olds and 85.7% of 20-24 year olds. The educational level of women was: 50.8% had incomplete primary education and 42.6% had secondary and university education. Religious affiliation for women was: 53.4% were not religious 43.6% were Catholics and 23.2% were Protestants. 86% of males were not religious 85.2% were Catholics and 58.7% were Protestants. Contraceptive use for the 1st premarital sex act was 31.3% for women and 22% for men. Coitus interruptus was most often used both by men and women (44.1% and 46.9%) the condom (18.4% and 24%) and the pill (30.9% and 20.8%). 30 days prior to the interview 42.6% of unmarried women had sex and 71.6% of them used contraceptives (the pill: 48.3% and coitus interruptus: 17.2%). Sexually active males were 34.8% of the sample with 1/3rd each using the pill or the condom. The pregnancy rate of the interviewees was 26.6% about half of them had premarital sex. A 1988 study of Guatemalan young people having premarital sex (31.3%) showed a much higher pregnancy rate (82.6%) however lack or low incidence of contraceptive use was typical in both locations.