Reproductive behavior and its patterns in the South Kazakhstan Region

Reproductive behavior and its pattern in the South Kazakhstan region Abstract This study is focused on reproductive behavior issues in the South Kazakhstan region over the period from 1999 to 2010. The main objective is to contribute to the scientific cognition of reproductive attitudes, intentions and its realization among South Kazakhstani couples. The analysis is based on data collected for couples in the survey "Reproductive behavior of a family of Kazakhstan" held in the year 2007. In addition to that, trends in population development and impact of recent socio-economic changes on reproductive behavior in the selected region are studied. Differences in age, sex, ethnicity, place of residence as well as religious affiliation, educational attainment and respondents' incomes are considered in data analysis. The results of fertility decomposition method showed, that recent increase in fertility was predominantly caused by the factor of age-specific fertility rate. Factors of urban-rural difference and birth order were not significant. With regard to reproductive attitudes, intentions and its realization it was found that reproductive preferences among South Kazakhstani couples were devoted to a large family, while their reproductive intentions were focused on two-three children at most. Keywords:..