Fertility is directly determined by so-called intermediate fertility variables or proximate determinants which are, in turn, affected by indirect determinants such as socio-economic, cultural and environmental variables. Many different proximate determinants influence fertility and the relationship between them and the level of fertility can be analysed using a comprehensive model. The result of this analysis shows that variations in four factors – marriage, contraception, lactation and induced abortion – are the primary proximate causes of fertility differences among populations. While fertility variations can always be traced to variations in one or more of the intermediate variables, the scope for variation differs among the variables as does their degree of influence in different societies and over time within societies.
Table of Contents
1. Pre-Transitional Populations II: Natural Fertility
1.1 Indirect determinants
1.2 Direct determinants
1.3 Fertility
1.4 Exposure factors
1.5 Susceptibility factors
Research Objectives and Key Topics
The primary objective of this work is to analyze the determinants of human fertility in pre-transitional populations by employing a quantitative framework that distinguishes between indirect and proximate variables. It specifically explores how factors such as marriage, contraception, lactation, and induced abortion influence fertility variations across different societies.
- The role of proximate determinants in regulating reproductive output.
- The conceptual distinction between natural and controlled fertility.
- Quantitative assessment of marriage patterns and their impact on total fertility rates (TFR).
- Case study comparisons of !Kung, Hutterite, and historical Chinese populations.
Excerpt from the Book
Pre-Transitional Populations II: Natural Fertility
Fertility is directly determined by so-called intermediate fertility variables or proximate determinants which are, in turn, affected by indirect determinants such as socio-economic, cultural and environmental variables. Many different proximate determinants influence fertility and the relationship between them and the level of fertility can be analysed using a comprehensive model. The result of this analysis shows that variations in four factors – marriage, contraception, lactation and induced abortion – are the primary proximate causes of fertility differences among populations. While fertility variations can always be traced to variations in one or more of the intermediate variables, the scope for variation differs among the variables as does their degree of influence in different societies and over time within societies.
In classical demographic transition theory it was assumed that pre-transitional societies were characterised by uniformly high fertility rates, which provided the starting point for the recent secular decline in fertility. Most ecological anthropologists, in contrast, have come to believe that many traditional societies, especially unacculturated hunter-gatherers, have regulated their reproductive output at relatively low levels. It has even been suggested that there occurred an earlier, stone-age demographic transition toward higher birth rates associated with the emergence of settled village life during the Neolithic. Two recent studies reveal differences between the total fertility rate (TFR) of hunter-gatherers (foragers) (5.7 and 5.6) and agriculturalists (6.3 and 6.6). Henry used the phrase “natural fertility populations” to describe pre-transitional societies. The term “natural fertility” applies to a population in which couples do not practice deliberate fertility control dependent on the number of children they have. Practices that are independent of parity (number of children ever born) are considered to be natural fertility factors.
Summary of Chapters
Pre-Transitional Populations II: Natural Fertility: This chapter introduces the framework of proximate determinants and explains the conceptual differences between natural fertility and controlled reproductive behavior in pre-transitional societies.
Keywords
Natural Fertility, Proximate Determinants, Demography, Total Fertility Rate, Lactation, Marriage Patterns, Contraception, Induced Abortion, Reproductive Output, Foragers, Hutterites, Population Dynamics, Fecundability, Birth Intervals, Traditional Societies
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on understanding the mechanisms governing fertility levels in pre-transitional populations by identifying the proximate determinants that influence reproductive outcomes.
What are the central themes covered?
Key themes include the impact of socio-economic and environmental indirect determinants, the classification of proximate variables, and the measurement of fertility differences in traditional settings.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze how variations in specific intermediate variables—namely marriage, contraception, lactation, and induced abortion—account for the observed differences in fertility across human populations.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The study employs a quantitative framework using mathematical equations (such as those developed by Bongaarts) to isolate the influence of specific proximate determinants on the total fertility rate (TFR).
What is addressed in the main body?
The main body examines the definitions of natural fertility, details the specific exposure and susceptibility factors, and provides empirical case studies from the !Kung, Hutterite, and Chinese populations to illustrate the theoretical framework.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Core keywords include Natural Fertility, Proximate Determinants, Demographic Transition, Lactational Infecundability, and Fertility Indexes.
How does the author explain the difference in fertility between !Kung and agriculturalists?
The text suggests that the transition to settled farming typically leads to shorter birth intervals and higher fertility, which is illustrated by comparing the foraging !Kung to more sedentary agricultural groups.
What role does son preference play in the Chinese population study?
The study indicates that the desire for sons led some women to continue childbearing until a son was born, significantly influencing their reproductive behavior and birth interval spacing.
- Citar trabajo
- BA (Oxon), Dip Psych (Open) Christine Langhoff (Autor), 2002, Pre-transitional populations: Natural Fertility, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/4696
