title: Surgical sterilization, regret, and race: contemporary patterns.
abstract: Surgical sterilization is a relatively permanent form of contraception that has been disproportionately used by Black, Hispanic, and Native American women in the United States in the past. We use a nationally representative sample of 4592 women ages 25-45 to determine whether sterilization continues to be more common and consequential by race for reproductive-age women. Results indicate that Native American and Black women are more likely to be sterilized than non-Hispanic White women, and Hispanic and Native American women are more likely than non-Hispanic White women to report that their sterilization surgeries prevent them from conceiving children they want. Reasons for sterilization differ significantly by race. These findings suggest that stratified reproduction has not ended in the United States and that the patterns and consequences of sterilization continue to vary by race.
authors.affiliation: Oklahoma State University, 700 N. Greenwood Ave., Tulsa, OK 74106, United States. Electronic address: karina.shreffler@okstate.edu.
authors.forename: Karina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Shreffler
authors.affiliation: The University of Nebraska at Lincoln, 706 Oldfather Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States. Electronic address: jmcquillan2@unlnotes.unl.edu.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McQuillan
authors.affiliation: Alfred University, 1 Saxon Drive, Alfred, NY 14802, United States. Electronic address: fgreil@alfred.edu.
authors.forename: Arthur L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Greil
authors.affiliation: The Pennsylvania State University, 211 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA 16802, United States. Electronic address: drj10@psu.edu.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Ethnicity; Race; Regret; Reproduction; Sterilization; Stratification