The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of people from a rural community regarding contraceptive methods, focused on surgical sterilization in women. This descriptive study was performed through an open-question test asking a total of 136 childbearing women and men, between October 1th and November 31th, 1998. 44,9% were male (n=61) and 55,1% female (n=75), and the mean age was 33 ± 9,87 years. 66,2% were convivients (n=90), 23,5% were married (n=32) and 10,8% were single (n=14). One hundred twenty eight (94,1%) knew at least one contraceptive method, being preservative the most reminded, followed closely by contraceptive pills. Female surgical sterilization was known by 69,9% (n=95). 9,5% (n=9) considered that surgical sterilization lead to women deceive her husbands. Natural methods were the best, as judged by the people. 3,7% considered that family planning care was a respo...