Aspects of Guyanese fertility : 1946-1975

Abstract

This study examined several aspects of Guyanese fertility between 1946 and 1975 namely, female age at entry into unions; incidence of union formation and motherhood; residential and educational differences in fertility; mating patterns and fertility and fertility by race. Although data from several sources were utilized, the major parts of the analyses were based on data collected in the Guyana Fertility Survey, which was conducted in 1975 and is the first of its kind in the history of the country. Apart from the examination of the role of certain variables in fertility movements between 1946 and 1975, attention was directed at possible future changes in the variables themselves, and their consequent impact on future fertility. Of particular interest, many factors examined not only suggest that the era of very high fertility is well over, but that the country has already embarked on the road to more moderate fertility levels. Despite the many interesting and original findings, certain grave deficiencies are to be found in this work. The latter are mainly the result of problems associated with the availability of data. Only a limited number of tables from the Guyana Fertility Survey were available. In many instances this inhibited further analyses of factors or issues, which in terms of current or future fertility, appeared to be critical. Such occurrences, however, were not only identified, but were accompanied by suggestions for future research. Show more