FEMALE STERILIZATION IN NEW-SOUTH-WALES, 1981 TO 1994-1995

This paper investigates and confirms the dramatic decline in female st erilization in New South Wales over the past decade, a period when mal e sterilization has remained fairly constant. The most significant dec line occurred among women under 30 years of age, which resulted in a r ise in the mean age at sterilization. In 1994-1995, 70% of sterilizati on operations were performed for contraceptive management only, 11% we re concurrent with Caesarean section, and 9% with abortion. Incidental findings were an increase in Caesarean section and the proportion of women having concurrent sterilization, and a large decline in intraute rine device removals, more than half of which were accompanied with st erilization in 1994-1995. Currently-married women accounted for 80% of sterilization cases. Immigrant women generally had lower incidence of sterilization compared to the Australian-born.