Evolution and involution in the sexual and reproductive health services in Catalonia (Spain)

In this paper we critically analyze the genealogy of the adoption of SRHR approaches in Catalonia. The reflections are based on a two-stage research project carried out within the Catalan Sexual and Reproductive Health Program (PASSIR). The main finding of the first part of our inquiry is a clear gap between discourse and practice. While the PASSIR design appears to incorporate the SRHR paradigm, the service is still targeting heterosexual women of reproductive age and mostly adopting a medical approach. Furthermore, as shown in the second part, the data analyzed evidence that the discourse of achieved transformation is far from being consolidated. In fact, the new Spanish and Catalan governments' turn to the right in conjunction with the austerity policies related to the global crisis seems to question the whole basis of the SRHR approach. We conclude our presentation by reflecting on the meaning of our findings for feminist practices. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.