Childlessness: measurement, determinants, and trends

Until recently to talk about childlessness in Brazil would not find sound research grounds. Since 2005 the country has reached fertility replacement level and the newest estimates indicate that fertility continues its decline path, from 1.9 in 2010 and falling to 1.7 in 2011. Fertility schedule is diverse when compared to countries because childbearing starts early and stops also early in women’s life. In such low fertility regimes it would be expected that a high percentage of women retreat from childbearing as in several European countries. However, in average in 2010, 13% of women aged 40-49, that is, women born between 1961 and 1970, at the beginning of fertility transition, did not have any children, a figure much lower than most European countries. On the other hand, given the high inequality present in almost all socioeconomic indicators, childlessness is very different for well educated and low-educated women, for wealthier and poor . The objective of this paper is to analyze the tendencies on childlessness in Brazil looking at the socioeconomic and regional differences in order to advance some hypothesis to the future level of fertility in Brazil. The question we try to answer is whether Brazil will become a childless society or only some segments of the population will be under such regime.

Abstract
Background: Infertility is a major medical condition that affects many married couples in sub-Saharan African and as such associated with several social meanings.
Methods: This study used in-depth, key informant interviews and focus group discussions with infertility couples, fertile couples, and key informants to understand the cause of infertility. Results: The study revealed that infertility was caused by both social and biological factors. Socially couples could become infertile through supernatural causes such as bewitchment, and disobediences of social norms. Abortion, masturbation and use of contraceptives were also identified as causes of infertility. Most childless couples seek treatment from spiritualist, traditional healers and hospital.
Conclusion: Childbearing is highly valued in the community and Childlessness is highly engendered, and stigmatized in this community with manifold social consequences. In such a community therefore, the concept of reproductive choice must encompass policies that make it possible for couples to aspire to have the number of children they wish.

This paper investigates the determinants of childlessness among men and women in later adult life in Italy, using data on a sub sample of 30-49 years old men (7,254) from the Multipurpose Italian survey, Family and Social Actors (2003). A weighted multinomial logit model is used to contrast “voluntary childless men (or women)” with other categories: the “un-voluntary childless” and fathers (or mothers). Covariates include background and early life course characteristics; family formation variables; work related features, attitudes and values. Results seem to corroborate the hypothesis that voluntary childlessness is a common behaviour among men and women, but its determinants partly differ, with particular regard to socio-economic status. In particular voluntary childlessness among men seems linked mainly to poor education, poor health and worse social status. Conversely among women the opposite is true: those with a university degree and a managerial position are more likely to be voluntary childless. Therefore, voluntary childlessness could spread in a different way across social classes. Family disruption or celibacy are common cause for not having and not willing to have children for both men and women, as well as secularisation and anti-traditionalist attitudes and the residence in the North of Italy.

An attempt is made to study the levels and differentials of permanent childlessness and also to examine the role of childlessness in explaining the fertility differentials in India. The analysis has been done using third round of National Family Health Survey. The contribution of childlessness in determining the prevailing fertility of the India is further analyzed by computing average number of children ever born separately for all women and only women with at least one child. Results shows that level of childlessness is higher in urban women. The uneducated women and women educated but below secondary level (3.0 percent) reported relatively lower level of childlessness compared to women having secondary and higher level of education (4.0 percent). The non-rich women reported relatively lower (2.7 percent) level of childlessness compared to rich (3.2) women. Further, it is found that Southern region have a higher difference in mean CEB between the women with at least one child and all women as a whole than the Northern region. From the estimated figures, it can be concluded that higher levels of childlessness in the Southern region is virtually influencing the prevailing fertility levels. Thus, there is North–South dichotomy in the prevailing fertility levels because of the differential level of childlessness rates.

Involuntary childlessness is a distressing condition for many men and women throughout the world. However, data on childlessness, especially in low-income countries is often poor. The Demographic and Health Surveys collect birth histories which include data on childlessness. However, the reported levels of childlessness in many countries fall below the level considered biologically feasible. Furthermore, patterns of childlessness often do not fit those expected from fertility patterns and DHS estimates are far lower than those reported by censuses. Despite these shortcomings, the DHS data are often considered sufficiently robust to reflect relative trends. This study seeks to identify the countries and regions where childless data are particularly problematic. The study will look at the variation in childlessness within countries in order to determine whether the data can be used for relative analysis and any adjustments which can be made to better reflect actual levels.

The desire to have one’s own biological children can be strong and compelling so the effects of infertility for women who are unable to conceive are seen socially irrespective. Although many effective programs are running in India for covering the reproductive and maternal health related issues, but till now, the infertility is not taken as an essential component in those programs. The purpose of this paper is to understand the differential in infertility treatment seeking behavior and its respective results in India by developed verses developing states. District Level Household Survey-3, a cross sectional data in India covered 643 994 ever married women. For first time it had a special section of Infertility that covered problems & treatment seeking for infertile ever married women of 15-49 years of age. Results of this study show the proportion of overall infertile women is higher in developing states compare to developed states. The result of the treatment is also in favor of developing states. In developed states only 78.6% of infertile women are seeking the treatment while in developing states its 83.9%. The result of treatment is also effective for developing states as 78.5% of women are conceive while in developed its 61.5%.

In one of the first studies ever on the subject we have reported a higher lifetime mortality rate for subfertile and sterile men without co-morbidity over all age groups in comparison to fertile men. The objective of this retrospective cohort study is to explore the association between male fertility and life time mortality. Little is known from literature reviews and own research about eventual biological mechanisms behind these mortality differentials. Here we go on reporting on a survey of surviving subjects and proxys on life time morbidity and reproductive biography details which may give additional information. Databases are general and semen parameters of 1408 patients attending the andrological service at Marburg University Hospital in 1949 and later and data from a core interview with 973 survivors and a proxy interview with 435 surviving family members. Results may indicate a protective effect of cohabiting with children (own/foster/adopted/step) for subfertile men.

Session 08.04-Population ageing and Intergenerational Relation
Title: Empty nesting, living alone or childlessness: Issues of care in old age among the tribals of Maharashtra (India)
While the problem of ageing is now accepted as a major issue in the modern India’s urban society, it is assumed that the aged among the tribals are untouched by the forces of modernisation, resulting in their neglect in the national policy framing.
Present study was planned to explore the situation of the elderly persons in tribal society focusing on their living arrangements; and impact on their care in old age.

A field study was carried out among the elderly population of three tribal groups namely Mahadev Koli, Thakar, and Pardhis of Maharashtra and compared with the Lahaulis of Kullu, visited.

Analysis revealed that one- third of couples lived by themselves (22%). Living alone, mostly women (7%), and with distant or non-relatives (13%) were other kinds of living arrangement now on an increase. A few did not have children (3.4%). Thirty -one percent whose children had passed away and 25 percent of tribals reportedly children migrated, hence were empty nesters.

Plight of the childless, deserted and separated tribal women in old age was quite appalling. Some case studies portraying the same will be discussed.
 

In developing countries like the Philippines, where population growth is quite high, the primary objective of the government is population control. Childlessness has been neglected both as a health problem and as a subject for social science research. The general thrust of both program and research has been on the correlates of high fertility and its regulation. Little, if nothing, was done on the understanding of Filipino childlessness.

In this study, childlessness among currently married women in the Philippines will be examined to establish its extent in the country, and to investigate factors associated with it. Findings shall provide relevant insights on childless women, particularly in making population growth projections, establishing family planning targets, and estimating requirements for services and other relevant developments in medical technology. This research is a valuable step in contributing to the limited literature on childlessness in the Philippines.

A combination of descriptive and inferential statistical methods will be utilized in the analysis. The determinant analysis employs multinomial logistic regression which identifies how closely each explanatory variable is associated with the likelihood of being childless after controlling for the effects of the other variables in the model.

Globally, approximately 50 to 80 million people facing infertility problem. It is also an emerging heath issue in developing country. This study highlights the extent of infertility and treatment seeking behaviour among currently married women in India using large scale survey data (DLHS-3). The study reveals that 8.3 % currently married suffering any infertility problem and most of them are secondary infertile (5.75%). About 76 % infertile women faced problem during their first pregnancy. Result indicates that 80 % of infertile women sought any treatment but a considerable proportion (33 %) received non allopathic and traditional treatment due to expensive modern treatment and lack of awareness. The study presents evidence that allopathic or modern treatment received is higher for rich women than poor. The study incorporates some policy issues in order to improve the exiting service and quality of care for the infertile couple.