How similar are the determinants of mortality and fertility?
Ali, S.M.; Siyal, H.B.; Sultan, M.
Pakistan Development Review 32(4 Pt 2): 1107-1115
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-9729 PMID: 12346809 Document Number: 337152
In a pre-transition situation, both fertility and mortality are high. In the process of demographic transition, fertility decline follows mortality decline and variables vary closely at a low level. Both variables behave in a way that is complementary to each other, thus the factors which explain fertility variations should explain mortality variations. The results of regression analysis indicate that the age, age at marriage and education of women beyond the primary level emerged as important determinants for both mortality and fertility at the aggregate level. Variables such as urbanization, sex ratio, and work status of women emerged statistically significant, affecting fertility behaviour, whereas the education of husbands beyond the primary level, work status of women and immunization of children exhibited a significant effect on the mortality of children. In Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand, the increased levels of female education seem to have played a greater role in bringing change in the attitudes of women towards small family size norms. Universal female education up to secondary level will raise the age of marriage and thus fertility and mortality rates will be affected.