Factors affecting fertility in Aklan, Philippines

The Survey was carried out in Aklan province, Philippines from March to September 1971. Two poblaciones, Kalibo and Ibajay, together with five barrios, Aslum, Capilijan, Sta Cruz, Pook and Tinigao formed the Survey universe. The interviewing was carried out in two stages, first round being Household interviews and Pregnancy History interviews and the second round being KAP/Socio-economic interviews with women who completed Pregnancy History interviews, and a small number of their husbands. Self administered questionnaires were given to a number of unmarried college students in Kalibo in August 1971. The aims of the Survey were to collect accurate and detailed information on pregnancy and birth performances from currently married women aged from 15 to 44 years; this data was collected during the Pregnancy History interviews. In order to understand some of the factors associated with the fertility patterns detected in the Pregnancy History data, a number of biological, socio-economic and psychological variables were examined by means of the second stage KAP interviews. The selection of the biological factors in fertility was based on the Davis-Blake set of intermediate variables and the data was analyzed under four sections, fecundity phase, coital phase, conception phase and the gestation/parturition phase. The socio-economic variables were suggested from the models constructed by Freedman and Hill, Stycos and Back. These variables covered the general areas of urban/rural residence, urban/rural birthplace, education, occupation, economic status religion, household type and family planning clinic usage. A number of opinion and attitude questions on such topics as marriage, children, family size and family planning were incorporated into the second stage interviews. These opinion questions formed the basis of an analysis of psychological factors in fertility. The unmarried students completed a questionnaire dealing with some of the same attitude questions given to the married women and the responses of the students give some indication of different perceived ideals and desires relating to children and family size. The outcome of the study showed the surveyed Aklanons to have quite high fertility behavior and general background characteristics and ideas which generally supported such high fertility patterns. There was little evidence to suggest an appreciable fertility decline in the near future in the area