Female Sterilization in Costa Rica

Sterilization is an increasingly familiar phenomenon to women worldwide, and it is the most prevalent contraceptive practice in the world. Costa Rica, where the use of contraceptives is generalized, is among those countries in the world with the highest prevalence of female sterilization. In Costa Rica, female sterilization is homogeneously distributed, common among women living in rural and urban zones, as well as among those of diverse educational levels. In contrast to what one may expect given the legacy of abusive birth control practices in Latin America, the “problem” of sterilization in Costa Rica has been framed by women and doctors alike not as the “need” for curbing its use but rather as a “struggle” for broadening access as much as possible. Interestingly, current rates of sterilization have been attained in the absence of a formal program offering sterilization for contraceptive purposes and in the context of a very restrictive legal framework for its provision. It was not until July 1999 that sterilization for contraceptive purposes was explicitly regulated and permitted. Before that year, it was only so-called therapeutic sterilization that was legally allowed. Sterilization was supposed to be offered only for health reasons. Notably, successive moves intended precisely to broaden access to this surgery within the state hospital system have been realized through regulation formally restricting its provision. This sometimes counterintuitive history of the provision and regulation of sterilization in Costa Rica is analyzed.

Download Full-text

Identification of Maize Rayado Fino Virus by Immunoelectron Microscopy

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100119879 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 636-637

Author(s):

O. E. Bradfute

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Zea Mays ◽

Costa Rica ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Rabbit Serum ◽

Normal Rabbit Serum ◽

Virus Particles ◽

Far North ◽

Maize Rayado Fino Virus ◽

Antibody Coating

Maize rayado fino virus (MRFV) causes a severe disease of corn (Zea mays) in many locations throughout the neotropics and as far north as southern U.S. MRFV particles detected by direct electron microscopy of negatively stained sap from infected leaves are not necessarily distinguishable from many other small isometric viruses infecting plants (Fig. 1).Immunosorbent trapping of virus particles on antibody-coated grids and the antibody coating or decoration of trapped virus particles, was used to confirm the identification of MRFV. Antiserum to MRFV was supplied by R. Gamez (Centro de Investigacion en Biologia Celular y Molecular, Universidad de Costa Rica, Ciudad Universitaria, Costa Rica).Virus particles, appearing as a continuous lawn, were trapped on grids coated with MRFV antiserum (Fig. 2-4). In contrast, virus particles were infrequently found on grids not exposed to antiserum or grids coated with normal rabbit serum (similar to Fig. 1). In Fig. 3, the appearance of the virus particles (isometric morphology, 30 nm diameter, stain penetration of some particles, and morphological subunits in other particles) is characteristic of negatively stained MRFV particles. Decoration or coating of these particles with MRFV antiserum confirms their identification as MRFV (Fig. 4).

Download Full-text

Laws on rape in UK, Canada and Costa Rica and honour killing in Jordan

Reproductive Health Matters ◽

10.1016/s0968-8080(00)90037-5 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 8 (15) ◽

pp. 172-173

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Honour Killing

Download Full-text

Social representations of human rights violations: Further evidence

Swiss Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1024//1421-0185.60.2.89 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 60 (2) ◽

pp. 89-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Alain Clémence ◽

Thierry Devos ◽

Willem Doise

Keyword(s):

Cluster Analysis ◽

Human Rights ◽

Costa Rica ◽

Young People ◽

Social Representations ◽

Social Reality ◽

Questionnaire Study ◽

Human Rights Violations ◽

High Tolerance ◽

Individual Actions

Social representations of human rights violations were investigated in a questionnaire study conducted in five countries (Costa Rica, France, Italy, Romania, and Switzerland) (N = 1239 young people). We were able to show that respondents organize their understanding of human rights violations in similar ways across nations. At the same time, systematic variations characterized opinions about human rights violations, and the structure of these variations was similar across national contexts. Differences in definitions of human rights violations were identified by a cluster analysis. A broader definition was related to critical attitudes toward governmental and institutional abuses of power, whereas a more restricted definition was rooted in a fatalistic conception of social reality, approval of social regulations, and greater tolerance for institutional infringements of privacy. An atypical definition was anchored either in a strong rejection of social regulations or in a strong condemnation of immoral individual actions linked with a high tolerance for governmental interference. These findings support the idea that contrasting definitions of human rights coexist and that these definitions are underpinned by a set of beliefs regarding the relationships between individuals and institutions.

Download Full-text