Determinants of the use of contraception of the indigenous population in Mexico

Ana María Chávez Galindo, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Argisofía Pérez, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Some studies on demographic behavior of the Mexican indigenous population show high levels of fertility and mortality. These are recent estimates because there is a lack of data, and it is still necessary studies about the social, economic, cultural and demographic aspects, which can explain the high fertility levels. Some results show a higher fertility among the indigenous population than among non-indigenous people of the same socioeconomic status. The indigenous population shows an early marriage age and a limited access to the services for sexual and reproductive health. With two logistic regression models and using a recent national demographic survey we study in depth the determinants of contraception use among the indigenous population in comparison with the non-indigenous population. Socioeconomic and demographic variables will be used. Gender equity indexes will be used to show that the traditional roles are important in the reproductive practices of this population.