Fertility differentials in North Sumatra

This study is an attempt to examine the fertility differentials of ever married women of childbearing age in North Sumatra. The differentials are examined according to socio-economic background of the respondents, based on various criteria such as place of residence, educational attainment, work status, religion, ethnicity, marital status, age at first marriage and use of family planning. The main findings are that fertility is lower for urban women, working women and Christian women. The main reasons for these differences appear to be the higher education levels and later ages at marriage for such women. Regionally, fertility was highest in the Moslem areas of Langkat and South Tapanuli and lowest in Karo, where Christianity is predominant. Overall, however, the fertility level in this province is still high. The high fertility level is a result of a high proportion of fecund married women, a low divorce rate, high value of children and strong partilineal system (which encourages couples to continue having children until they get sons). Recently the expansion of education, rising age at marriage and the practice of family planning have contributed in a significant way to a lowering of fertility. Within the data limitations, this study contributes to an understanding of the demography of North Sumatra Province, which has not been adeauately studied. Some important areas for future research are also suggested by this study, such as ethnic fertility differentials