[Reproductive behavior and health: reflections on the supply of services]

The aim of this article is to put forward a series of reflections on the role that service providers have played in defining the interactions between reproductive behavior and health. In the first section some approximations are presented of what could constitute a framework for analyzing the topic under study, including demographic aspects and the ones involving the provision of services as well as the aspects related to the epistemology of health and a commentary on the importance of norms in the provision of services. In the second section a couple of recent experiences related to the provision of services in a context of "having an impact on reproduction for the purpose of improving health" discussed. The source of information used were two national surveys (Encuesta Nacional sobre Factores de Riesgo en la Anticoncepción Hormonal, or National Survey on Risk Factors in Hormonal Contraception, and Encuesta Nacional sobre Fecundidad y Salud, or National Fertility and Health Survey) made in 1984 and 1987 with women of childbearing age and health service providers (the first of the two surveys mentioned). Based on the experience stated by the female users of the contraceptive methods most frequently used by Mexicans, and on the responses of service providers, an evaluation is made of the medical norms of the institutions belonging to the Mexican health sector, and some hypotheses are suggested on the possible reasons why there are deficiencies in the observance of these norms. Lastly, some lines to prompt a discussion along this subject are proposed.