Food and Nutrition Bulletin
Volume 26, Issue 2 SUPPL. 1, 2005, Pages S68-S77

Fertility behavior and reproductive outcomes among young Guatemalan adults (Article)

Ramakrishnan U.* , Yount K.M. , Behrman J.R. , Graff M. , Grajeda R. , Stein A.D.
  • a Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
  • b Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Sociology, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • c Population Studies Center, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
  • d Program in Nutrition and Health Sciences, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • e Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP), Guatemala City, Guatemala
  • f Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States

Abstract

Fertility rates have declined in many developing countries and this has implications for health and development of subsequent generations. Guatemala has the highest fertility rates in Central America. Reproductive histories were obtained by interview in 2002-04, in a cohort of 779 women and 647 men who had participated as young children in a nutrition supplementation trial in Guatemala conducted between 1969 and 1977. Most women (77%) and men (79%) are currently married. Among the 700 women and 524 men reporting at least one birth, mean age at first birth was 20.7 ± 3.8 years and 23.1 ± 3.9years respectively. Knowledge (> 80%) and use (∼70%) of modern contraceptive methods is fairly high; knowledge increases with parental socioeconomic status (SES) as measured in 1975. Younger respondents have experienced fewer pregnancies and live births compared with older respondents; age-specific fertility rates between 20 and 24 years were 294, 249, 236, and 261 births per 1,000 women, respectively, for women born from 1962-65, 1966-69, 1969-73, and 1974-77. Women in the top tertile of parental SES have had significantly fewer pregnancies (3.3) compared with those in the middle (3.7) and lower (3.8) tertiles. Migrants to Guatemala City reported greater knowledge of contraceptive methods, fewer pregnancies and living children, higher age at first birth, and more pregnancy and newborn complications as compared with cohort members who remained in the original villages (p <.05 for each comparison). Fertility rates, especially between 20 and 24 years, have declined over time. Differences in reproductive behaviors by parental SES and current residence suggest the role of social transitions in determining family formation in Guatemala. © 2005, The United Nations University.

Author Keywords

Guatemala Fertility Contraceptive use Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP) Human Capital Study

Index Keywords

Birth Rate induced abortion Abortion, Induced Guatemala contraceptive use sexual behavior Maternal Age physiology Follow-Up Studies follow up human Cohort Studies statistics Marital Status Central America fertility marriage Humans male Guatemala [Central America] female Western Hemisphere pregnancy Article pregnancy outcome adult World age distribution cohort analysis parity social class Contraception Behavior
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-21344455069&partnerID=40&md5=ca112914e10cac12018262601d6c9389
ISSN: 03795721
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English