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Estimating voluntary and involuntary childlessness in the developing countries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Dudley L. Poston ,
Kathryn B. Kramer ,
Katherine Trent  and
Mei-Yu Yu
Dudley L. Poston
Affiliation:
Population Research Center and Department of Sociology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
Kathryn B. Kramer
Affiliation:
Population Research Center and Department of Sociology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
Katherine Trent
Affiliation:
Population Research Center and Department of Sociology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
Mei-Yu Yu
Affiliation:
Population Research Center and Department of Sociology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
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Summary

This paper examines rates of marital childlessness in the developing countries of the world and separates them into voluntary, involuntary and related components through a decision-tree model based on fecundity, contraceptive behaviour, pregnancy status, age, years married, and other variables. The principal data are taken from World Fertility Surveys. The conclusion is reached that virtually all of the permanent childlessness in the developing countries examined is involuntary.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 15 , Issue 4 , October 1983 , pp. 441 - 452
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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