The purpose of this study is to examine and evaluate fertility patterns and factors affecting fertility of Thai women in fishing villages. Data for the present study come from The Social Economic and Demographic Survey of Fishing Villages in Thailand conducted by the Institute of Population Studies, Chulalongkorn University during May-June 1978. The sample contained 638 households in three provinces, Rayong, Phetchaburi and Phang-nga. In most populations, demographic variables are among the most important factors affecting fertility. Therefore, it is appropriate to begin the examination of the impact of demographic factors on childbearing. The evidence presented clearly shows a strong inverse relation between age at first marriage of women and their cumulative fertility. When age of women is controlled, the significance of age at first marriage on fertility still remains especially in the groups of women aged 15-29 and 30-44. However among women aged 45 and over, the pattern is not consistent. In regard to duration of marriage, the results indices that the longer duration of marriage of women, the higher cumulative fertility they have. When we take into account the age of women, there are consistent patterns for women aged 15-29 and 30-44 and again no consistent pattern for women aged 45 years and over. It almost certainly reflects the greater tendency among elder women to underreport the number of children ever born. For the relationship between infant mortality and fertility, the positive association between the cumulative number of live births and infant mortality generally persists for each age group for mother in fishing communities.
Among social factors, it was found that fertility is related to the education of the husband as well as the wife. A general inverse relationship between number of children ever born and couple's educational attainment persists for every province in the sample. Among the three age groups, however, a consistent inverse relationship between fertility and education is apparent for women aged 15-29 and 30-44 but inconsistent for the older women. It should be pointed out that no clear pattern is evident for the relationship between family structure and fertility. An analysis of fertility differentials by relations indicate that Buddhist women are characterized by higher cumulative fertility than Muslims women. However, when age is controlled, cumulative fertility shows no regular relationship with religion. The economic fertility differentials among women in fishing villages has revealed several patterns. Higher fertility tends to be associated with wives whose husbands are fishermen and farmers. When age of women is introduced, husband's occupational differential in fertility are neither pronounced nor uniform. In addition, the fertility of women in the labor force is not different from the housewives. Those who worked in fishery and farming occupations are characterized by higher fertility than other women even when controlling by age. Again, the results is clearly evident for 15-29 and 30-44 aged groups.
Concerning the relationship between household income and fertility, a general inverse relationship persists especially whom compare the poorest to the richest categories, but among the in-between categories, however, the relationship is somewhat irregular. The other factors concerning the knowledge, attitude and practice in family planning, it was found women who agreed with the family planning ideas have lower fertility level than those who do not agree. Women whoever practiced contraception have smaller number of children ever born than those who never practiced. The result is changed somewhat whom age of women is controlled. Among women age 15-34, those who agreed and in family planning and ever practiced contraception have higher cumulative fertility the ones who do not. However, in the aged group of 35 years and over, the relations is in opposite directions. It is worth nothing that the results of demographic, socio-economic fertility differentials are more pronounced and consistent in Rayong and Phetchaburi than Phang-nga. Perhaps the more important is that Rayong, the province with higher socio-economic status, has the lowest fertility as compared to the other two provinces. The results hold true controlling for demographic socio-economic variables explored in this study. When age of women is controlled, however, the consistent patterns holds true especially for women aged 15-29 and 30-44.
SUBJECT
ภาวะเจริญพันธุ์
ชาวประมง
สตรี -- ไทย
health
attitudes
LOCATION
CALL#
STATUS
Political Science Library : Thesis
วส 129
LIB USE ONLY
Political Science Library : Thesis
วส 129
CHECK SHELVES
Population Information Center
THE.100
LIB USE ONLY
Thailand and ASEAN Information Center (6th Floor) : Thesis
