| Abstract: | ![]()
1607 women were interviewed about their gyneco-obstetrical health in a survey of 469 randomly selected households in the province of Santiago, Chile. The dependent variables correspond to the frequency of gynecologic or obstetrical morbidity and demand for medical attention in 2 weeks of April, 1987. Independent variables were age, educational status, and health insurance coverage. 125 of the households were headed by uninsured persons. The average woman was 34.4 years old. 43.1% had 8 years or less of education, 42.6% had 9.12 years, and 14.2% had 13 or more years. 21 new cases of acute obstetrical or gynecological disorders were reported, including 15 of vulvovaginitis, 3 abortions, 1 bartholinitis, 1 intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, and 1 urinary tract infection. There were 55 cases of chronic disorders, including 12 benign ovarian lesions, 8 dysmenorrheas, 8 uterine dystropias, 10 cases of menstrual disturbances, 1 of infertility, 4 benign cervical lesions, 5 benign uterine lesions, 2 pelvic inflammations, 2 cervical cancers, 2 breast cancers, and 1 ovarian cancer. Among the 1607 women, 11 had consulted for family planning in the 2 weeks, 25 for pregnancy, 22 for gynecological conditions, and 9 for postpartum care. 58.3% of the women aged 15-49 used a contraceptive method. The proportions of users of oral contraceptives and IUDs respectively were 62.5% and 37.5% for women under 20, 60% and 40% for women 20-29, 27% and 61% for women 30-39, and 15.1% and 60.6% for women 40-49. 28.2% of women over 15 had had a Pap test in the past year. The proportions of different age groups having Pap tests ranged from 2.0% for women under 20 to 46.7% for women aged 30-39. 3 women in the sample households had died in the past year of gyneco-obstetric causes, 1 of complications of childbirth and 2 of cervical cancer. |
