Population Council Research that makes a difference

Banner Photo: Smiling woman holding a child outside in Brazil

Overview

Council researchers assessed a program in Brazil that uses computer kiosks to provide health education to truck drivers.

Council researchers assessed a program in Brazil that uses computer kiosks to provide health education to truck drivers. Photo: Population Council, Brazil

In the 1980s the Population Council's office in Brazil (which closed in 2007) coordinated activities related to contraceptive introduction in several countries in Latin America. The 1990s saw a shift in focus to quality-of-care in provision of contraceptive services. Recent Council research has addressed HIV and AIDS among vulnerable populations—primarily along Brazil’s borders, where HIV prevalence is higher than the national average. Capacity building remains an underlying aspect of the Council’s work, with the Ministry of Health and Brazil’s National STI/HIV/AIDS program being the primary recipients of the Council’s technical assistance. 

Highlights of past and present work

  • Played a key role in the introduction of contraceptive methods in the country, including the Copper T 380A IUD, implants (Norplant® and Jadelle®), and emergency contraception.
  • Coordinated activities to update Brazil’s national guidelines on family planning, published in 2002.
  • Completed a strategic assessment of the HIV epidemic in border areas, which provided the basis for the Ministry of Health’s research strategy to address the epidemic.
  • Was designated one of a handful of agencies in a consortium to implement USAID’s and the Ministry of Health’s AIDS research strategy.
  • Collaborated with the University of Michigan and Reprolatina, a Brazilian NGO, in the creation of eight training centers in Brazil, two in Bolivia, and two in Chile, and a network of researchers, known as ExpandNet, which undertakes studies on scaling up service innovations in reproductive health in the public sector.

Banner photo: © Beryl Goldberg

Projects

Assessing and Improving the Measurement of Sexual Behaviors (more)
Council researchers are conducting a series of studies assessing the reporting of sexual behavior in survey research and the use of audio computer-assisted self-interviews (audio-CASI) as a technique for providing more reliable and valid information.
(1/2000 - 1/2009)
Sexuality and sexual behavior

Resources

The prevention and management of HIV and sexual and gender-based violence: Responding to the needs of survivors and those-at-risk (PDF
Raifman,Sarah; Askew,Ian; Amin,Sajeda; Keesbury,Jill; Mullick,Saiqa; Diers,Judith A.; Budiharsana,Meiwita P.; Undie,Chi-Chi; Zama,Mary; Menziwa,Mantshi; Hutchinson,Sherry; Rutenberg,Naomi
Publication date: 2011


Inverse probability weighting in STI/HIV prevention research: Methods for evaluating social and community interventions (abstract
Lippman,Sheri A.; Shade,Starley B.; Hubbard,Alan E.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases 37(8): 512-518
Publication date: 2010


Looking back, moving forward: Promoting gender equity to fight HIV, Horizons studies 1999 to 2007 (PDF
Pulerwitz,Julie; Michaelis,Annie P.; Weiss,Ellen
Horizons Synthesis Background Papers
Publication date: 2010


Looking back, moving forward: Reducing HIV-related stigma, Horizons studies 2000 to 2007 (PDF
Pulerwitz,Julie; Michaelis,Annie P.; Weiss,Ellen; Brown,Lisanne; Mahendra,Vaishali Sharma
Horizons Synthesis Background Papers
Publication date: 2010


Looking back, moving forward: Understanding the HIV risk and sexual health needs of men who have sex with men, Horizons studies 2001 to 2008 (PDF
Geibel,Scott; Tun,Waimar; Tapsoba,Placide; Kellerman,Scott E.
Horizons Synthesis Background Papers
Publication date: 2010


'She's a professional like anyone else': Social identity among Brazilian sex workers (abstract
Murray,Laura R.; Lippman,Sheri A.; Donini,Angela; Kerrigan,Deanna
Culture, Health and Sexuality 12(3): 293-306
Publication date: 2010


Social-environmental factors and protective sexual behavior among sex workers: The Encontros intervention in Brazil (abstract
Lippman,Sheri A.; Donini,Angela; Diaz,Juan; Chinaglia,Magda; Reingold,Arthur; Kerrigan,Deanna
American Journal of Public Health 100(S1): S216-S223
Publication date: 2010


Consistencia lógicade la información aportada por mujeres sobre conductas sensibles: resultados de un experimento realizado con dos modos de entrevista, São Paulo, Brasil (abstract) (PDF
Mensch,Barbara S.; Hewett,Paul C.; Jones,Heidi E.; Luppi,Carla Gianni; Lippman,Sheri A.; Pinho,Adriana A.; Diaz,Juan
Perspectivas Internacionales en Salud Sexual y Reproductiva (Número especial): 21-29
Publication date: 2009


Assessment of risk factors for HIV infection among men who have sex with men in the metropolitan area of Campinas City, Brazil, using respondent-driven sampling (PDF
de Mello,Maeve; de Araujo Pinho,Adriana; Chinaglia,Magda; Tun,Waimar; Barbosa Junior,Aristides; Ilario,Maria Cristina F.J.; Reis,Paulo; Salles,Regina C.S.; Westman,Suzanne; Diaz,Juan
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2008


Community development and HIV/STI-related vulnerability among female sex workers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (abstract
Kerrigan,Deanna; Telles,Paulo; Torres,Helena; Overs,Cheryl; Castle,Christopher
Health Education Research 23(1): 137-145
Publication date: 2008


Computerized interviewing validated in Brazil (PDF
Population Briefs 14(2)
Publication date: 2008


Consistency in women's reports of sensitive behavior in an interview mode experiment, Sáo Paulo, Brazil (abstract) (HTML
Mensch,Barbara S.; Hewett,Paul C.; Jones,Heidi E.; Luppi,Carla Gianni; Lippman,Sheri A.; Pinho,Adriana A.; Diaz,Juan
International Family Planning Perspectives 34(4): 169-176
Publication date: 2008


HIV-related stigma, service utilization, and status disclosure among truck drivers crossing the Southern borders in Brazil (abstract
Pulerwitz,Julie; Michaelis,Annie P.; Lippman,Sheri A.; Chinaglia,Magda; Diaz,Juan
AIDS Care 20(7): 764-770
Publication date: 2008


Measuring attitudes toward gender norms among young men in Brazil: Development and psychometric evaluation of the GEM scale (abstract
Pulerwitz,Julie; Barker,Gary
Men and Masculinities 10(3): 322-338
Publication date: 2008


Self-sampling for RTIs is valid, feasible, acceptable (PDF
Population Briefs 14(1)
Publication date: 2008


Sexual risk behaviours and HIV seroprevalence among male sex workers who have sex with men and non-sex workers in Campinas, Brazil (abstract
Tun,Waimar; de Mello,Maeve; Pinho,Adriana A.; Chinaglia,Magda; Diaz,Juan
Sexually Transmitted Infections 84(6): 455-457
Publication date: 2008


Using sexually transmitted infection (STI) biomarkers to validate the reporting of sexual behavior within a randomized experimental evaluation of interviewing methods (abstract
Hewett,Paul C.; Mensch,Barbara S.; de A.Ribeiro,Manoel Carlos; Jones,Heidi E.; Lippman,Sheri A.; Montgomery,Mark R.; van de Wijgert,Janneke
American Journal of Epidemiology 168(2): 202-211
Publication date: 2008


Chaos, co-existence, and the potential for collective action: HIV-related vulnerability in Brazil's international borders (abstract
Lippman,Sheri A.; Kerrigan,Deanna; Chinaglia,Magda; Diaz,Juan
Social Science and Medicine 64(12): 2464-2475
Publication date: 2007


Comprehensive program successfully decreases HIV risk behaviors (PDF
Population Briefs 13(2)
Publication date: 2007


Home-based self-sampling and self-testing for sexually transmitted infections: Acceptable and feasible alternatives to provider-based screening in low-income women in Sao Paulo, Brazil (abstract
Lippman,Sheri A.; Jones,Heidi E.; Luppi,Carla Gianni; Pinho,Adriana A.; Veras,Maria Amelia M.S.; van de Wijgert,Janneke
Sexually Transmitted Diseases 34(7): 421-428
Publication date: 2007


Mobility and its liminal context: Exploring sexual partnering among truck drivers crossing the Southern Brazilian border (abstract
Lippman,Sheri A.; Pulerwitz,Julie; Chinaglia,Magda; Hubbard,Alan E.; Reingold,Arthur; Diaz,Juan
Social Science and Medicine 65(12): 2464-2473
Publication date: 2007


Promovendo normas e comportamentos eqüitativos de gênero entre homens jovens estratégia de prevenção do HIV/AIDS [Promoting more gender-equitable norms and behaviors among young men as an HIV/AIDS prevention strategy] (PDF
Pulerwitz,Julie; Barker,Gary; Segundo,Marcio; Nascimento,Marcos
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2007


Reaching truckers in Brazil with non-stigmatizing and effective HIV/STI services (PDF
Chinaglia,Magda; Lippman,Sheri A.; Pulerwitz,Julie; de Mello,Maeve; Homan,Rick; Diaz,Juan
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2007


Reaching truckers in Brazil with non-stigmatizing and effective HIV/STI services (PDF
Chinaglia,Magda; Lippman,Sheri A.; Pulerwitz,Julie; de Mello,Maeve; Homan,Rick; Diaz,Juan
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2007


Scaling up family planning service innovations in Brazil: The influence of politics and decentralization (PDF
Diaz,Juan; Simmons,Ruth; Diaz,Margarita; Cabral,Francisco; Chinaglia,Magda; Fajans,Peter; Ghiron,Laura
from Scaling Up Health Service Delivery: From Pilot Innovations to Policies and Programmes, pp. 135-156
Publication date: 2007


In our own hands: SWAA-Ghana champions the female condom (PDF
Cravero,Kathleen; Skaer,Michelle; Ebin,Victoria; Brady,Martha
Quality/Calidad/Qualité (no. 17)
Publication date: 2006


Partner-delivered medication for sexually transmitted infections: Findings from Brazil (abstract
Jones,Heidi E.; Lippman,Sheri A.; Pinho,Adriana A.; Luppi,Carla Gianni; van de Wijgert,Janneke
Gaceta Médica de México 142(S2): 69-76
Publication date: 2006


Partner-delivered therapy viable in resource-poor areas (PDF
Population Briefs 12(3)
Publication date: 2006


Promoting gender equity among young Brazilian men as an HIV/AIDS prevention strategy (PDF
Pulerwitz,Julie; Barker,Gary; Segundo,Marcio; Nascimento,Marcos
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2006


Promoting more gender-equitable norms and behaviors among young men as an HIV/AIDS prevention strategy (PDF
Pulerwitz,Julie; Barker,Gary; Segundo,Marcio; Nascimento,Marcos
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2006


Effectiveness of female and male condoms in preventing exposure to semen during vaginal intercourse: A randomized trial (abstract
Galvao,Loren; Oliveira,Laurione C.; Diaz,Juan; Kim,Dhong jin; Marchi,Nadia Maria; van Dam,C.Johannes; Castilho,Roger F.; Chen,Michael; Macaluso,Maurizio
Contraception 71(2): 130-136
Publication date: 2005


The roles, responsibilities, and realities of married adolescent males and adolescent fathers: A brief literature review (PDF
Barker,Gary; Lyra,Jorge; Medrado,Benedito
Paper prepared for the WHO/UNFPA/Population Council Technical Consultation on Married Adolescents
Publication date: 2004


Engaging adolescent boys and young men in promoting sexual and reproductive health: Lessons, research, and programmatic challenges (PDF
Barker,Gary
from Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health: Charting Directions for a Second Generation of Programming-Background Documents for the Meeting, pp. 109-153
Publication date: 2003


Selected DHS data on 10-14-year-olds (HTML
Annexes by country to Facts about Adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical Tables for Program Planning
Publication date: 2003


Selected DHS data on 10-14-year-olds: Brazil (PDF) (HTML
Annex to "Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical tables for program planning"
Publication date: 2003


A rapid assessment of HIV/AIDS at the Brazilian borders: Adapting the WHO strategic approach methodology to HIV/AIDS research 
Diaz,Juan; Galvao,Loren; Lippman,Sheri A.; Chinaglia,Magda
from Proceedings of the XIV International AIDS Conference, Barcelona, 7-12 July., pp. 227-231
Publication date: 2002


Action research to enhance reproductive choice in a Brazilian municipality: The Santa Barbara project 
Diaz,Margarita; Simmons,Ruth; Diaz,Juan; Cabral,Francisco; Bossemeyer,Debora; Makuch,Maria Yolanda; Ghiron,Laura; Haberland,Nicole; Measham,Diana
from Responding to Cairo: Case Studies of Changing Practice in Reproductive Health and Family Planning, pp. 355-375
Publication date: 2002


Misoprostol use in obstetrics and gynecology in Brazil, Jamaica, and the United States (abstract
Clark,Shelley; Blum,Jennifer; Blanchard,Kelly; Galvao,Loren; Fletcher,Horace; Winikoff,Beverly
International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 76(1): 65-74
Publication date: 2002


Participatory research can influence policy: Using the strategic assessment of HIV/AIDS transmission in Brazil's border communities for policy development 
Diaz,Juan; Miller,Suellen; Galvao,Loren; Chinaglia,Magda; Lippman,Sheri A.
from Proceedings of the XIV International AIDS Conference, Barcelona, 7-12 July., pp. 23-27
Publication date: 2002


¿Las mujeres brasileñas pueden optar libremente por una cesárea? (PDF
Population Briefs, December 2001 (Spanish edition)
Publication date: 2001


Acceptability of the female condom after a social marketing campaign in Campinas, Brazil (PDF
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2001


Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical tables for program planning (HTML
Series of DHS data tables by country
Publication date: 2001


Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey--Statistical tables for program planning: Brazil 1996 (PDF) (HTML
Publication date: 2001


O lugar da contracepção de emergência no planejamento familiar no Brasil [The place of emergency contraception in family planning in Brazil] 
Diaz,Juan; Baracat,Edmundo; Galvao,Loren; Diaz,Margarita
Revista Femina 29(3): 153-156
Publication date: 2001


Organizing a public-sector vasectomy program in Brazil (abstract) (PDF
Penteado,Luis Guilherme; Cabral,Francisco; Diaz,Margarita; Diaz,Juan; Ghiron,Laura; Simmons,Ruth
Studies in Family Planning 32(4): 315-328
Publication date: 2001


Acceptability and performance of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (Mirena) in Campinas, Brazil (abstract
Diaz,Juan; Bahamondes,Luis; Monteiro,Ilza; Petta,Carlos; Hidalgo,Margarete; Espejo-Arce,Ximena
Contraception 62(2): 59-61
Publication date: 2000


Anticoncepção durante o período pós-parto [Contraception during the postpartum period] 
Petta,Carlos; Diaz,Juan; Pinho Neto,J.S.
from Temas Especiais de Anticoncepção [Contraception: Special issues], pp. 9-18
Publication date: 2000


Are Brazilian women really choosing to deliver by cesarean? (abstract
Hopkins,Kristine
Social Science and Medicine 51(5): 725-740
Publication date: 2000


Qualidade de atenção no planejamento familiar: Marco conceitual e situação no Brasil [Quality of care in family planning: Conceptual framework and situation in Brazil] 
Diaz,Juan; Halbe,H.W.
from Tratado de Ginecologia [Textbook of gynecology], pp. 914-923
Publication date: 2000


Emergency contraception: Knowledge, attitudes and practices among Brazilian obstetrician-gynecologists (abstract) (PDF
Galvao,Loren; Diaz,Juan; Diaz,Margarita; Osis,Maria Jose; Clark,Shelley; Ellertson,Charlotte
International Family Planning Perspectives 25(4): 168-171
Publication date: 1999


Expanding contraceptive choice: Findings from Brazil (abstract
Diaz,Margarita; Simmons,Ruth; Diaz,Juan; Gonzalez,Carlos; Makuch,Maria Yolanda; Bossemeyer,Debora
Studies in Family Planning 30(1): 1-16
Publication date: 1999


Saúde Sexual e Reprodutiva no Brasil: dilemas e desafios [Sexual and Reproductive Health in Brazil: Dilemmas and Challenges] 
Galvao,Loren; Diaz,Juan
Publication date: 1999


Anticoncepção de emergência no Brasil: Situação atual e perspectivas para o futuro 
Galvao,Loren; Diaz,Juan
Gynaecia 4: 10-18
Publication date: 1998


Integrando la sexualidad en la planificación familiar: La experiencia de tres proyectos de VIH/ETS en América Latina y el Caribe 
Becker,Julie; Leitman,Elizabeth; Fathalla,Mahmoud F.
Quality/Calidad/Qualité (no. 8)
Publication date: 1997


Introducing sexuality within family planning: The experience of three HIV/STD prevention projects from Latin America and the Caribbean (PDF
Becker,Julie; Leitman,Elizabeth; Fathalla,Mahmoud F.
Quality/Calidad/Qualité (no. 8)
Publication date: 1997


Reproductive tract infection. Lessons learned from the field: Where do we go from here? (PDF
Grant,Jennifer; Measham,Diana
Robert H. Ebert Program on Critical Issues in Reproductive Health Publication Series
Publication date: 1996


El Coletivo: Un colectivo feminista de salud y sexualidad femenina en Brasil 
Diaz,Margarita; Rogow,Debbie; Barzelatto,Jose
Quality/Calidad/Qualité (no. 6)
Publication date: 1995


The Coletivo: A feminist sexuality and health collective in Brazil (PDF
Diaz,Margarita; Rogow,Debbie; Barzelatto,Jose
Quality/Calidad/Qualité (no. 6)
Publication date: 1995


Man/Hombre/Homme: Respuestas a las necesidades de la salud reproductiva masculina en América Latina 
Rogow,Debbie; Bruce,Judith; Leonard,Ann
Quality/Calidad/Qualité (no. 2)
Publication date: 1991


Man/Hombre/Homme: Meeting male reproductive health care needs in Latin America (PDF
Rogow,Debbie; Bruce,Judith; Leonard,Ann
Quality/Calidad/Qualité (no. 2)
Publication date: 1990


Brazil Fast Facts

Population (millions)194.3
Total fertility rate1.9
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births20
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births58
Girls aged 20-24 married by age 18 (%)36
HIV/AIDS prevalence (%)0.4
Living below US $2 per day (%)10

Country statistics from Demographic and Health Surveys, 1987–2011; UNAIDS and UNICEF websites (accessed 10/22/2012); "World Population Data Sheet" (Population Reference Bureau, 2012)
 

Get Involved

Connect

  • Visit our Facebook page
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Visit our Youtube channel