RESUMEN
Background: Previus studies in Metropolitan Santiago, showed that at least 10 percent of mothers changed their reproductive partner. Aim. To study the frequency of reproductive partner change and its associated factors among women delivering in a public hospital. Subjects and methods: We interviewed 859 non primiparous women that gave birth to a child in a public hospital of Metropolitan Santiago, between March 2001 and February 2002. Results: Mean maternal age rose according to birth order from 27.4 to 33.6 years from the second to the fourth sibling. Married women were the largest group and single ones decreased from the second to the third sibling. Twenty two percent had some activity out of home and those with a high birth order (fourth or more) exhibited poorer schooling. Unwanted pregnancies increased with birth order, reaching 55 percent among ½fourth and over¼ births. Thirty four percent of women delivering their second child, changed their partner. Among women delivering their third child, 38.6 percent had one sibling with a different father; 20.4 percent had changed partner during their second pregnancy and 20 percent during the current one. Among those in the ½fourth and over¼ group, 56.1 percent had at least one sibling with a different father; 18.3 percent had changed partner in the second sibling; 15 percent, in the third and 27.8 percent, in the fourth and over. In all birth orders, mothers with activity out of home exhibited a higher frequency of partner change. The most common reasons to change partner were infidelity, abandon or a personal decision, while economic reasons were uncommon. Conclusions: A great number of children are exposed to bonding ruptures and to the consequential mental health or behavioral problems (Rev Méd Chile 2004; 132: 719-24).
