Los debates científicos y políticos en torno a la planificación familiar en Costa Rica, 1957-1978

Abstract

Latin America and Costa Rica were preferred spaces for the formulation of population and family planning policies during the second half of the 20th century. Given the fears generated by the rapid population increase, the “underdeveloped” regions were the destination of economic aid and technical training to implement the new methods that were being developed. This article aims to analyze the scientific and political discursive deployment that occurs in Costa Rica because of the beginning of the national family planning program, starting from 1957 —the year in which the First Demography Seminar was held— until 1978, when there were important operational and institutional transformations in the program. Journalistic sources, reports from Costa Rican demographic seminars, interviews with important figures involved in family planning in the country, as well as theses and investigations that were developed during the period, were used. A plurality of voices from different academic disciplines stands out, which intervened in the debate. Despite the discrepancies and frictions, the common idea that permeated these discussions was the need for planning methods to be accessible to the bulk of the population, and for these to be voluntary. Examining the ideas that circulated during this context is essential to understand part of the social imaginary linked to the issues of population, family, and sexuality, as well as to understand the changes and discursive continuities around contemporary issues that continue to generate controversy at the political and social level. such as women’s reproductive rights, responsible parenthood, and bodily autonomy.