title: [Ideal number of children as a risk factor for tubal ligation].
abstract: The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the association between ideal number of children (INC) and female sterilization. A nested case-control study was performed through a secondary analysis of data from a cohort study on the reproductive health of women in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 3,878 women were included, 1,012 being sterilized (cases). The relationship between INC and number of live births (LB) was divided in two categories (INC > LB and INC < or = LB). The relative risks of performing tubal ligation were calculated (odds ratio) with their respective 95% confidence intervals for the relation INC/LB and all control variables. All predictor variables were included in a logistic regression model in order to identify the factors independently associated with female sterilization. The results showed that the risks of tubal ligation were higher among women with INC < or = LB, higher age, with partners, higher family income, more than two previous pregnancies, more deliveries, fewer abortions, and without paid work.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Eduardo Campos de
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: José Guilherme
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cecatti
authors.forename: Maria José Duarte
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Osis
authors.forename: Maria Helena de
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sousa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017584:Reproductive History; D013246:Sterilization, Tubal