Fernando Henrique Cardoso

In 1985, Brazil had an estimated population of women, at reproductive age, of 40 million . Of that 40 million, an estimated 11 million women had undergone a sterilization procedure, leaving them unable to bear children. A rapid rise in sterilization occurred in the early 1970s and has maintained popularity to modern day. Many women undergoing the procedure were victims of the educational and political system’s failures. Education surrounding contraceptive methods was rare and the Brazilian…