Fertility intentions over time

The fertility of migrants has been analyzed and explained through different hypotheses: disruption, adaptation, assimilation/acculturation, selectivity and socialization. Despite the fact that these hypotheses often refer to fertility preferences as an important fertility determinant, little is known about the relationship between migration and the fertility preferences. The objective of this research is to investigate changes in fertility preferences throughout the life course to distinguish between the effects of international migration and the effects of other factors (culture, social norms, family values) on the decision to have one or more children. Among other questions, this project attempts to answer in what ways do migrants negotiate their reproductive preferences with those of their partners? To carry out this research project, qualitative data concerning migration experience, fertility preferences as well as household decision-making will be collected through focus groups and in-depth interviews. The fieldwork has been carried out in a rural community located in central Veracruz. In addition, quantitative demographic data has been gathered from la Encuesta Nacional sobre los Niveles de Vida de los Hogares(ENViH). These data is being used to calculate and display basic descriptive statistics.

Despite large differences in total fertility, there are strong similarities in the patterns of family building across sub-Saharan Africa. In this paper we argue that these patterns of family building and the persistence of high to medium-high fertility regimes across the region can be understood better if the institutional context in which African women’s childbearing occurs is not neglected. In this paper, we argue that historical institutions affecting attitudes towards childbearing, combined with contemporary social, political and economic uncertainty and institutional capriciousness, have inhibited the African fertility transition. Until these institutional dynamics are better understood and engaged with, Africa’s fertility decline will remain slow.

Over the past few decades, South Korea has received considerable attention for its lowest fertility rate. Korea’s fertility has been steadily decreasing since the early 1960s; and in 2009, its fertility rate of 1.14 was recoded as the world’s lowest fertility rate. This remarkable fertility decline in Korea is especially notable in that there was a considerable lag in adopting effective policy in order to inhibit the fertility decline in Korea. That is, while there is strong evidence that the steep decline of fertility level below the replacement level within two and half decades is largely due to government policies and family planning programs to reduce family size (Cho, 2000); these types of policies were not repelled until the mid-1990s. As direct cash payment and indirect transfer policies to promote higher fertility has been largely ineffective, how improving work-family compatibility would affect women's fertility intention has important implications. Using the Korea Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families (KLoWF), we investigate the effect of work-family compatibility on women's fertility intention. Preliminary results suggest that while some policies are effective, some are not; and further investigation of which policy works is called for.

Fertility has declined across several Indian states of late (1970s), with varying historical points of onset and pace of decline. Women in Uttar Pradesh still bear four children due to interplay of socioeconomic, demographic and cultural factors. Rarely role of diffusion was examined in precipitating fertility change in the India. To investigate the role of women’s social network towards influencing actual fertility and fertility preferences in rural Uttar Pradesh, India. The study is based on egocentric social network data from 567 women 18-35 years. Discussions on matters of child bearing (MoCB) with women social network partners (SNP) had significant negative association with CEB by woman. Accounting for interaction between MoCB and density of SNP, there appears positive association of discussion of MoCB and increasing density of SNP with children ever born in rural UP. This suggests operation of social influence to sustain high fertility in the study area.

We examine differences in fertility desires between men and women in Kwale and Bungoma, Kenya, and explore the role of men and women in realizing these desires. Using qualitative data, we examine these roles in the context of geo-cultural values as perceived through Bukusu and Christian value systems (Bungoma) and Digo and Muslim value systems (Kwale). Further, we look at the position of women within these value systems and examine its impact on fertility desires and pathway to realizing ideal fertility.
Women in Kwale enjoy higher levels of freedom than women in Bungoma. This is due to the difference in gender/ marriage systems. In both areas, the prominence of polygyny creates competition and encourages desire for high fertility. There are differences in fertility outcomes - women in Bungoma have more children than those in Kwale. There is discordance in fertility desires between men and women in both areas.

Based on the survey data that the Beijing population research Institute conducted in 2008 and 2011 in Beijing, this study made a comparative research on fertility intention between floating population and local residents, with regard to ideal number of children, gender preference and influence factors. The research results show that both of floating population and local residents show low intentions in ideal number of children, low probability on having a second child and no son preference. Meanwhile, the study demonstrated that it is social-economic factor not family planning policy more influential on the childbearing behavior. And more and more families voluntarily choose bearing one-child. Based on the findings, this paper draws the conclusion that with rapid modernization and urbanization in China, the fertility intension has been greatly weakened and Chinese

Politics, socio-economic, cultural and health related issues that serve as harbinger of social relationship among people in the society could not really be explained without looking at the religious belief of the people which formed out of social precept. This study is based on the baseline data from a longitudinal couple study in a peri-urban community, Ipetumodu, in Osun State, Nigeria collected between April and May, 2010. A total of 787 couples were sampled in this baseline and the cohort will be followed up for 2-3 years using an identical survey instrument and methodology in all the study sites. Our finding shows that religion play major role in couple’s decision for more children and more of the Muslim couples are not sure of their future fertility intentions. But as it concerns the use of contraceptive, more of the Christians are more favourably disposed to the use of family planning.

Relationship between fertility and female employment has been widely recognized in demographic literature. Also, the impact of atypical working hours, i.e. work involving long and overtime work hours and working at weekends, on work-family conflict has been the subject of several studies. However, research linking such working conditions to fertility behaviour remains scarce. The aim of this study is to explore whether atypical working hours affects women’s childbearing behaviour. The research focus is on fertility intentions within the next three years, which are assumed to be a valid predictor of subsequent reproductive behaviour. Data are used from the fifth round of the European Social Survey. Sample is restricted to women aged 18 to 45 living with a partner/husband. Control variables include age, number of children living in the household and years of full-time education. Preliminary results show a statistically significant impact of atypical working hours on childbearing intentions indicating that women who work evenings/nights and during weekends are more likely not to intend a(nother) child within the given time period. Furthermore, institutional and national specific factors such as childcare provision and parental leave may influence the ability to combine family with professional life.

Unintended pregnancies are prone to health risks not only mother but also to the child. These risks may turn to be fatal and life long. Therefore, planned parenthood is advocated in all the health initiatives. The studies have shown that the share of unintended pregnancies crossed 40 percent in some setting of developing countries. Thus, this paper aims to examine the level of unintended in the four South Asian countries, namely Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, and its consequence for mother and child health. Preliminary findings of this study show that the share of unintended pregnancies ranges between 24% in India to 37% in Nepal. Unintended pregnancies are less likely to receive Antenatal care as well to be delivered in institutional settings in these countries. Similarly, unwanted births were in disadvantageous state of immunization, breastfeeding and growth. The final version of the paper will carry immediate policy recommendations on the issue.

Most of the demographic researches on fertility, reproductive health and contraception focus on females of particular age group especially who are in their reproductive period. Important demographic indicators like fertility, contraception and mortality etc. are estimated on the basis of reporting of the eligible female respondent. But how reliable is the reporting of the wife regarding estimating such demographic parameters? Recently the focus of demographic and health surveys has shifted from being woman centric to couple centric where the couple is taken as a sing unit. The available literature on the subject is also scanty. Hence, this particular study makes an attempt in exploring the matching and mismatch among couples in reporting of the ideal family size. The present study analyses the couples information by using a nationally representative sample size of the third round of National Family Health Survey(NFHS-3, 2005-06). Information regarding ideal family size is collected both from the husband as well as wife separately. In India the mismatch between the husband and the wife in reporting of ideal family size is almost 43 percent.