Reproductive Rights in Rocinha. Practices and perceptions of adolescents on reproductive health, family planning and sexuality in a Brazilian favela

Abstract

To have reproductive rights means that women and men combined, share the right to (reproductive) health care, the right to decide if and when they would like to have children, the right to decide the number of children they would like to have, the right to protect themselves against diseases, etc. This thesis explores the practices and perceptions of young women and men living in Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro on the issues of reproductive health, family planning and sexuality and the factors that influence these practices and perceptions. It looks at issues such as gender, religion, state influence and community influences in order to create a complete picture of their reality. Outcomes are interesting and sometimes very different from expectations one might have when looking at theoretical debates.