An analysis of fertility for premarital pregnant women
Lee, S.B.; Park, B.T.; Choi, S.
Kajok Kyehoek Nonjip. Journal of Family Planning Studies 5: 7-26
1978
PMID: 12178467 Document Number: 463894
The relationship between fertility, contraceptive behavior and the timing of the 1st pregnancy or birth was examined using 5996 women interviewed in the 1976 National Family Planning and Fertility Evaluation Survey. In most of our previous studies, little data on premarital pregnancy was available for analysis and comparison with data on the number of live births and children after marriage. Therefore, in light of the importance of the timing of 1st pregnancy or birth for subsequent childbearing and in response to indications of a rising trend in premarital conception, special attention was given to the fertility behavior. It was discovered that premarital rates of 1st pregnancy consistently increase according to year of marriage. For example, it was found that the premarital pregnancy rate for the 1974-1976 marriage cohort was 26.0% compared to 3.2% for the cohorts married before 1950. The characteristics of those experiencing premarital pregnancy were compared to those in the same cohort. Women with relatively later ages at marriage, higher levels of education, work experience before marriage, and younger ages at interview tended to be more likely to experience 1st pregnancy before marriage. In order to measure fertility levels, three indicators were employed: total number of pregnancies, total number of living children, and total number of live births. Differences in total number of pregnancies by the timing of the 1st pregnancy were observed in each marriage cohort. Women premaritally pregnant had consistently more pregnancies than women postmaritally pregnant. Women who experiened premarital pregnancy had a larger number of living children than those women pregnant after marriage, especially in recent marriage cohorts. Premaritally pregnant women under 34 have more live births than postmarital pregnancy women of the same ages. (Author's modified)