Women's health and reproductive rights: Romanian experience

One of the most dramatic chapters in the history of women's reproductive rights ended in Romania in 1989. For over 23 years, Romania had pursued a rigidly enforced pronatalist policy, banning the importation of contraceptives, strictly prohibiting most abortions, and imposing a tax on childless couples. The aim of this study was to explore, through individual in-depth interviews, psychosocial antecedents and consequences of the Romanian policy. The study group consisted of 50 women, aged between 18 and 55 years, with diverse sociodemographic and educational characteristics. The interviews focused on sexuality education, sexual experiences, reproductive events, and partner relations. The results show that women's private behavior and efforts to regulate their fertility prevailed over public policies, regardless of personal risks or costs to health. Concluding observations summarize major findings, results from a 1993 national household survey on reproductive health, and a commentary on the need for ongoing sexuality and contraceptive education and counseling.