SEXUALITY, MARRIAGE AND REPRODUCTION

Abstract

From the study of Lutheran families of German descent reconstituted through the Fleury - Henry method, frequencies of premarital conceptions and births were made evident. The analyses considered the division of the group in three cohorts, with observation start defined by the dates (I) 1800-1894, (I) 1920-1939. From one subgroup to the next, a decline in the frequency of births resulting from premarital conceptions was observed. To the hypothesis explaining the reduction in these frequencies as a result of fertility decline, preference was given to emphasize the explanation of changes in the observed behavior wich considers the insertion of the group in urban centers, something involving cultural contacts. With that, one does not reject that part of behavior changes, could be explained by the increasing use of contraception.