Introduction
In this session, you will distinguish immediate determinants from distal factors influencing fertility, and understand how the immediate biological and behavioural factors result in the variation of fertility between populations and across time.
It is important to note that in demography fertility is entirely concerned with the number of living births that women give birth to. It is because only live births produce new members of the population. Demography is concerned with essential ‘numbering of the people’ and with understanding population dynamics. This differs from the clinical concept of fertility, which is the potential of a woman to become pregnant and bear a live child. So it is important to understand that fertility in demography is the bearing of live children.
Before we start this session, let’s think about the following questions. Jot down some thoughts on the following questions on your own words.
a. What is necessary to have a baby?
b. What prevents you from having a baby?
c. Let’s shift your perspective from individual level to population level. Why do some populations have higher total fertility rates than others?
Did you list any biological, behavioural, socioeconomic, cultural or environmental factors? (You might want to print this page or copy your answers to a text document for your reference.)