Cross-border reproduction: the reproductive market in Angola and Brazil

Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) have grown significantly since the first birth through in vitro fertilization (IVF) in 1978 in the United Kingdom. Despite the massive global expansion of ART services over the past years, they remain inaccessible in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this article, we consider transnational mobility around ARTs by investigating the search for infertility treatment by Angolan couples in Brazil based on empirical material produced on the services of assisted reproduction in Brazil. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used. The quantitative online survey, answered by 84 out of 141 fertility clinics in Brazil, showed that there were a significant number of people coming to this country from Africa, Europe and North and South America, with a significant proportion of couples from Angola. To explore those findings, in-depth interviews were carried out with health professionals in Brazil (Sao Paulo) and Angola, and couples undergoing fertility treatments. The study discusses the dynamics involved in seeking treatment from developing countries (south-south relationship), the reproductive strategies and their implications in terms of cultural practices and community.