Journal of Ecohumanism March 2024 Volume: 3, No: 7, pp. 2722 – 2733 ISSN: 2752-6798 (Print) | ISSN 2752-6801 (Online) https://ecohumanism.co.uk/joe/ecohumanism DOI: https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i7.4413 2722 Family Planning Policies in Peru (1995-2023): Ontological Problems on Fertility and Infertility in Andean and Amazonian Culture Jorge Apaza-Ticona 1 , Ignacio Gallardo-Lorenzo 2 , Adderly Mamani-Flores 3 , Juan Inquilla- Mamani 4 , Vicente Alanoca-Arocutipa 5 , Alfredo Calderón-Torres 6 Abstract The research proposes a historical analysis of family planning policies in force from 1995 to 2023, with the objective of understanding the problems derived from the Voluntary Surgical Contraception (VSC) program implemented between 1995 and 2000, as well as the current decline of the health system in relation to sexual health and family planning. It addresses the influence of conservative- oriented governments and policies, as well as the interaction with Andean, Amazonian and urban cultural conceptions of fertility and infertility. The methodology employed is historical in nature, with an anthropological and qualitative approach. The findings highlight that policies related to sexuality and family planning in the historical context of the country did not take into account the cultural values and perspectives of local communities, which has contributed to a social gap in the field of public health. It is evident that the mass sterilization policies implemented in Peru during the 1990s suffered from lack of informed consent, pressure and coercion on individuals, having a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable communities. Therefore, this study seeks to provide guidance and recommendations to address the current problem identified. Keywords: Family Planning Policies, Reproductive Health, Ontology, Fertility and Infertility. Introduction Reproductive health and family planning policies have been developed in Peru since the 1980s. The evolution of these policies can be categorized into three periods: a first period between 1995-2000, with a policy that advocated the implementation of non-reversible contraceptive methods and anti-abortion. A second period between 2000-2021, conservative with a large affiliation to religious discourses on the family and sexuality, with policies scarcely directed towards the population and little or no investment. Although there are intermediate periods that, if they have promoted a more progressive sexual health policy and planning, the reach in the population has been deficient. A third period from 2021 to the present day, advocating for a progressive policy, a more effective educational implementation, especially from the biological and cultural logics. Trying to implement greater coverage in health centers, and above all with more scientific information on these issues and expanding specialized personnel. But laws and protocols, in most cases, are not taking into account the cultural differences that populations hold about the categories of fertility and infertility. In this article we want to analyze these ontologies to bring to light the problems that arise between policies and these populations. Both fertility and infertility are concepts that vary by culture. In the Peruvian case, the virility of people is still a recognizable conception in the number of children they have and in their gender. The nature of infertility is also related to an imbalance in the body, nature or community, not only, as biomedicine would say, with reproductive problems. This being the case, it is important to take into account these cultural conceptions, establishing a communication in the categories of the different cultures. It is true that progress in this 21st century has been greater than in the past, but there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve the objectives set by the country. 1 Professor, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Puno - Perú, Email: japazaticona@unap.edu.pe, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9085-4354. 2 Universidad Complutense de Madrid – España, Email: ignaciogallardo@ucm.es, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6339-7178. 3 Professor, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Puno - Perú, Email: adderlymamani@unap.edu.pe, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5141-1366 4 Professor, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Puno - Perú, Email: jinquilla@unap.edu.pe, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2540-9091 5 Professor, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Puno – Perú, Email: valanoca@unap.edu.pe, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9111-0704 6 Professor, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Puno, Perú, Email: acalderon@unap.edu.pe, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8716-139X