Mexico: reproductive behavior and social margination, 1970-1990. Elements of geographic diagnosis in reproductive health
García, C.; Flores, M.; Tovar, V.
Salud publica de Mexico 37(4): 279-287
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-3634 PMID: 7502149 Document Number: 370026
The lack of a definite knowledge on regional reproductive behavior characteristics hinders the evaluation of the goals stated in the General Population Law (Ley General de Población) and counteracts any efforts towards equating population growth with regional development. The present work aims at overcoming this problem. Indirect specific fertility rates and global fertility rates (GFR) were obtained by state, using census and vital statistics data for the states of Mexico during the 1970-1990 period. Reproductive behavior was related to social deprivation indexes used by PRONASOL and CONAPO for those years. A high statistically significant correlation (p < 0.01) between state social deprivation levels and the downward trends of GFR for the same decades was found. Findings evidence a general downward trend of GFR during the period of study. However, this trend was not uniform across the country. Further studies are needed to determine whether these differences are due to the various social deprivation levels rather than to the effectiveness and extension of family planning programs. Mapping these results could be useful as diagnostic elements of the reproductive behavior of the population and also generates information necessary to support social organized responses in reproductive health.