Factors Influencing Sterilization Use and Outcomes

In 1985, EngenderHealth (then the Association for Voluntary Sterilization) commissioned a review and critical analysis of existing literature on voluntary sterilization, to be included in its international fact book on sterilization (Ross, Hong, & Huber, 1985). The summary and findings of that review (Philliber & Philliber, 1985) have for many years provided the most comprehensive overview of studies on sterilization use worldwide. In summary, the review found that socioeconomic status and religion have little impact on the decision to choose sterilization, but that partners’ encouragement and influence do. In terms of outcomes, most sterilization users report being satisfied with the procedure and having experienced little or no change in their sexual activity or marital relations following sterilization; regret is also relatively rare. Risk factors for negative outcomes (such as regret or dissatisfaction) include coercion during decision making, unhappy marital relations, a lack of information about the procedure, and complications resulting from the procedure. Over the past 15 years, other literature reviews on facets of sterilization have been conducted. Chi and Thapa (1993), for example, examined worldwide literature on postpartum sterilization. Chi and Jones (1994) focused their global analysis on risk factors for poststerilization regret in women. In 1998, EngenderHealth (then AVSC International) conducted a review of the literature on sterilization decision-making factors and outcomes among female users in 17 Latin American and Caribbean nations. Although these works have contributed to the synthesis of knowledge on the antecedents and re-