article
Knowledge and use of herbal contraceptives in a Peruvian Amazon village
Human organization : journal of the Society for Applied Anthropology • 35 (1) • Published In 1976 • Pages: 9-19
By: Hern, Warren M..
Abstract
A 1964 health study of the Peruvian Amazon Indian village of Paococha revealed the knowledge and use of herbal preparations alleged to have contraceptive properties. A 1969 follow-up study attempted to document the extent of knowledge and use of these preparations and to make an assessment of their effectiveness. Among other things, the village was found to have the highest fertility recorded for any human group. Over 50% of all females aged 15 or more were aware of herbal contraceptives and 43% of the women between the ages of 20 and 54 had actually used them. There was a significant desire to limit fertility as evidenced by the large number of women who actually reported behavior aimed at limiting fertility. However, comparison of fertility in women who had and had not used herbal contraceptives revealed no support for the hypothesis that the herbal preparations are effective. An earlier linkage with practices such as postpartum sexual abstinence is postulated as the source of belief in the effectiveness of herbal contraceptives (p. 9).
- HRAF PubDate
- 2002
- Region
- South America
- Sub Region
- Amazon and Orinoco
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Physician
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- John Beierle ; 2001
- Field Date
- 1964, 1969
- Coverage Date
- 1964, 1969
- Coverage Place
- village of Paococha, Ucayali River area, Peru
- Notes
- Warren M. Hern
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 19)
- LCCN
- 47033317
- LCSH
- Shipibo-Conibo Indians