Fertility preferences and contraceptive use in Pakistan

"The objective of this paper is...to analyse the levels and trends of fertility preferences in Pakistan during the 1975-1980 period and to see if any changes in the preferences have occurred over time even in the absence of the information, education and communication (IE&C) component of the family planning programme. Our hypothesis is that there exists a conscious choice of reproductive goals among married couples and there is no likelihood of any significant change in these expressed choices over time for the last twenty years." The data are from the 1979-1980 Population, Labour Force and Migration (PLM) Survey and the 1975 Pakistan Fertility Survey. "The analysis of data obtained for the two national surveys indicates that the surveys in question are highly consistent with regard to fertility preferences. They also indicate that the magnitude of family size preferences did not change appreciably between the two surveys. Moreover, the period and cumulative fertility behaviour in both the surveys did not record any significant variation.... When contraceptive behaviour was analysed with the reported fertility preferences, it appeared that the women were quite consistent in their stated fertility attitudes." Comments by Khalil A. Siddiqui are included (pp. 617-8).

Fertility levels in Australia: what can the 1991 census tell us?

"The information which can be gathered from the 1991 [Australian] Census on trends in fertility is limited. But an analysis of the one per cent users' sample tape indicates that women with advanced educational qualifications are now having families which are considerably smaller than those of women who have no post-school qualifications."

Modelling step-families: exploratory findings

"A combined macro-micro model is applied to a population similar to that forecast for 2035 in the Netherlands in order to simulate the effect on kinship networks of a mating system of serial monogamy. The importance of incorporating a parameter for the degree of concentration of childbearing over the female population is emphasized. The inputs to the model are vectors of fertility rates by age of mother, and by age of father, a matrix of first-marriage rates by age of both partners (used in the macro-analytical expressions), and two parameters H and S (used in the micro-simulation phase). The output is a data base of hypothetical individuals, whose records contain identification number, age, sex, and the identification numbers of their relatives." (SUMMARY IN FRE)

[The plural family in a rural African environment. An example of plantation economy: the Dayes plateau in Southwest Togo]

"Study of the transition to a plantation economy in populations on the Dayes plateau (SW Togo) shows the progressively preponderant role of the domestic group. Responsibility for production, for continuity of the labour force and for the demographic continuity of groups which used to be held by lineal authorities is now exercised at [the] domestic unit level. Although this results in greater autonomy for women, it also results in radical changes in the marriage rate. The loss of control of lineal structures over marriages appears to have led to increasing conjugal instability to link in particular with the number of unmarried couples. The authors carry out a comparative study of autochthonous groups (Ahlon and Ewe) and an immigrant group (Kabye) and study the consequences of this situation with regard to both demography and family structures. They show that autochthonous and immigrant groups are interdependent in the forming of demographic structures and report that there are many family models, essentially in the autochthonous population." (SUMMARY IN ENG)

Fertility and family size in Western Europe

"It is known that the fertility decline in Western Europe started almost everywhere in the mid-1960s, that the national trends have run in parallel, and that the reason was essentially the decrease in the numbers of large families, or even their complete disappearance. However, for want of comparable data, international comparisons are often limited to annual fertility indices, and do not distinguish changes due to reduced family size from those which are the result of changes in fertility timing....[The author presents,] for a broad range of countries, an analysis by cohort and birth order. This makes it possible to measure the fertility decline in more detail, to compare its amplitude in the various parts of Europe, and to study its mechanisms."

From marriage to informal union: recent changes in the behaviour of French couples

The author uses data from the 1986 Family History Survey conducted in France to examine patterns of entry into marriage and the range of informal unions that exist. "Since unmarried cohabitation is only recent for first unions, we shall confine our analysis to first unions and, for homogeneity, to those begun before the 30th birthday." She examines the effects of occupational status and social background on marriage decisions.

[A case study on the fertility and contraceptive practice of urban women]

"This study analyzes the fertility characteristics and the practise of contraceptive methods among married women aged 15-49 living in Izmit [Turkey] urban area. While the average pregnancies and the number of living children are lower than the average for overall Turkey, the use of contraceptive methods [is] found to be higher. Only [one third] of the women exposed use traditional methods. No significant relation is found between education level or number of living [children] and use of contraceptive methods. 66.5% of all women agree that due to medical or social reasons, legal abortions must be made in hospitals." (SUMMARY IN ENG)

[Demographic variables and social dependency: annual and intergenerational comparisons]

"Drawing on a profile of age-specific expenditures for selected [Canadian] Government programmes (services and transfers), we examine the effect of demographic changes and labour force participation on social expenditures in the upcoming decades. In terms of cross-sectional analysis, increased activity rates and particularly a postponed retirement age would exercise a major impact.... Using a different approach, it is possible to distinguish for each generation the social benefits received and corresponding contributions. Whereas the amount of benefits received by a specific cohort essentially depends on its size, contributions vary according to annual social expenditures. The demographic structures are such that the generations born before 1991 will profit from an excess in benefits...while for the following generations the situation will be reversed.... For all scenarios with negative population growth, future generations may expect to incur a deficit in terms of social expenses." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)

Differentiation of voivodeships in terms of the number of children in the household

The author attempts to answer the question, "Are the numbers of households [in Poland] with specific numbers of supported children (structures) in the total number of households similar or dissimilar in all voivodeships, and where [are these] identical (similar) or dramatically different?" Results indicate that "the most differentiated voivodeships, in terms of the number of children below 24 years of age supported by households, were voivodeships of north-eastern and south-eastern Poland. In the case of male heads of households the number of voivodeships making up areas of the highest differentiation regarding the number of children below 24 years is definitely bigger than for the female heads of households."

Understanding the living arrangements of Latino immigrants: a life course approach

"Using data from the 1990 [U.S.] Panel Study of Income Dynamics Latino Sample, this study examines three competing hypotheses for understanding extended family living among Mexican, Puerto Rican and Cuban immigrants. The findings indicate no significant relationship between living with extended kin and cultural indicators--such as English fluency--or economic factors--such as employment and income. Rather, the data support a life course explanation. Extended family living arrangements among Latino immigrants represent a resource generating strategy for caring for young children and older adults."

Religious intermarriage in Canada, 1974-1982

"This paper reviews recent literature, with particular reference to Canada, on religious intermarriage. The importance of intramarriage in the cross-generation maintenance of subcultural values is emphasized. Recent trends in religious outmarriage and the major explanations and correlates of these trends are considered. Recent data published by Statistics Canada is examined for the nine year period between 1974-1982."

[How consistent are personal data? Analysis of statements on the planning status of pregnancies]

The consistency of responses on the planning status of births is analyzed using data from a longitudinal fertility survey being carried out by the Demographic Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Interviews were conducted in 1978 and 1981 with a sample of two marriage cohorts; in both sets of interviews a question was asked concerning the reaction to a pregnancy at the time the woman heard about it. "After linking the data for the pregnancies leading to first or second births, a consistency index suggested by Ryder and Westoff...was applied which distinguishes between random and nonrandom consistency. For the first births a proportion of 54.4% identical answers yields a consistency index of 38.0...; for second births a proportion of 53.7% identical answers results in [a] consistency index of 30.1...." Differential consistency is also analyzed according to selected socioeconomic and demographic variables as well as a variable measuring the correspondence of husband's and wife's desired family sizes in the opinion of the husband. (summary in ENG)

Demographic and socio-economic status of women in different family structures in a rural area of south India

The authors study "women's demographic and socio-economic position in different family types...[using data] from a sample survey conducted in a rural area of Tamil Nadu [India] during May and June of 1988....Comparison of demographic characteristics of ever-married women in the reproductive age, such as marital status, age, marriage duration, age at marriage and living children, and socio-economic characteristics, such as educational status, occupational status, per capita annual income of the family and number of rooms in the house, is made between family types."

[In and out of wedlock. An empirical study on changing attitudes toward marriage and parenthood]

"The theory of 'individualization' offers a useful framework for understanding the present changes in partnerships, marriage, and parenthood.... This paper presents results of a 'qualitative' study which, in addition to a general trend towards individualization, reveals differences according to socio-regional milieus. These differences are reflected in four areas: cohabitation, marriage, the conflict between parenthood and career, and sex roles within partnerships.... The observed trends support the notion that the future will bring a polarization of life styles: a family-oriented and an individualized style." The geographical focus is on Germany. (SUMMARY IN ENG)