Julia Rodriguez Jovane
Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Salud Pública, Sede de Golfito/Panama

Research Topic: Surgical Sterilization Among Women and its Effects on the Population Structure of the County of Corredores, Costa Rica

Julia obtained her primary and secondary education in David, Panamá. In 1989 she began her higher education at the University of Costa Rica and in 1996 she graduated with a degree in Microbiology and Medical Chemistry. In 2004 she received an M.A. in Administration of Sustainable Health Services from the National Distance Learning University. In January of 2003 she began an MPH at the University of Costa Rica, Golfito branch. Currently, Julia is researching gender issues (social, economic, and cultural) that influence women in the province of Corredores to get sterilizations even though there are other methods that the health care system has available. She is also looking at demographic changes that have taken place in the area throughout time and looking into whether these sterilizations will cause the population to age at a faster rate. This research has given Julia the opportunity to work with women and understand gender relations better. By getting to know the women in the town where she lives, she has come to realize that they are very intelligent. This research has allowed her to apply demographic concepts she had learned only in theory and to leave the lab where she works every day.