Female work status and fertility in Puerto Rico: A socio-demographic study
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between female work status and fertility in Puerto Rico among women of childbearing age (15-49) living in the island in 1982. An overview of the current demographic (basically fertility) and female work status situation in Puerto Rico is described drawing upon data from several sources. Evidence indicates that fertility rates (as measured by the number of live births per 1,000 population or the crude birth rate, the number of live births per 1,000 women of childbearing age or the general fertility rate and the average number of children born to women of childbearing age or the gross reproduction rate) have been falling in Puerto Rico for the past two to three decades up to the present although fluctuations during this period are by no means uncommon. Female labor force participation rates, especially in the modern sector have been rising both absolutely and relatively in comparison to those of men. The analysis of the relationship between female labor force participation and fertility is based on one data source, the Fertility and Family Planning Survey conducted in 1982. A longitudinal retrospective approach for studying the relationship between female labor force participation and fertility within a specified period is used. The association between interval employment prior to an interval birth and an interval birth (1978-82 time interval) is measured using logit and OLS regression analysis. The evidence got from the analysis indicates that female labor force participation of all types (familial or traditional, nonfamilial or modern) are negatively related to fertility. In contrast with the theoretical assumption that nonfamilial labor force participation of women is more negatively related to fertility than is the familial type, the present study found that in Puerto Rico today, familial labor force participation of women is more negatively associated with fertility.
Subject Area
Demographics
Recommended Citation
Mbuh, Rosemary Kinyuy, "Female work status and fertility in Puerto Rico: A socio-demographic study" (1988). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI8818466.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI8818466
