Portugal

The democratic revolution of 1974 brought Portuguese women a different status and new spheres of social participation. However, the conservative residue in Portuguese society is still affecting women's lives in terms of health, employment, and access to full citizenship. Several aspects characterize the reproductive health situation of Portuguese women. Although women's average maternity age has been increasing, mainly as a result of their strong presence in the job market, Portugal is still one of the countries in the European Union with the highest rate of teenage pregnancy. This may be due to a dearth of information on reproductive issues as well as by the cultural importance of the Catholic Church in the country. Nevertheless, there has been a steady increase in the use of contraceptives ...