An analysis of the emerging patterns of reproductive behaviour among rural women in South Africa : a case study of the Victoria East District of the Eastern Cape Province

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study describes and analyses changes in women's reproductive behaviour IDdeveloping communities. These changes took more than hundred years to occur IDWestern communities but only two to three decades in developing communities such asTaiwan and Barbados. The population of Victoria East district of the Eastern Capeprovince of South Afiica was chosen as a case study of these changes. Changes in thereproductive behaviour of women are described over a period of twenty-two years.The base year for the study is 1978 and data were collected up to 2001. Changes increasedin particular since 1988. Statistical descriptive analyses were undertaken with regard topatterns of changes in variables such as age at the onset of births, child spacing, the meannumber of births per woman, fertility regulation, and the number of children ever bom.Variations in patterns were analysed according to age cohorts, occupation and maritalstatus. Information regarding these variables was collected from records at hospitals andclinics. Focus group interviews were held to reflect women's own descriptions andexperiences regarding these variables. The research design thus combines the quantitativeand qualitative approaches.The findings confirm a pattern of fertility decline that Caldwell described as the Africanpattern, which is different from that seen in Europe and Asia. It is characterized by aprogressive delay in onset of childbearing and reductions in the mean number ofchildbirths that occur across all age cohorts and are associated with contraceptiveaccessibility.The high incidence of non-marital childbearing in the Victoria East district however setsthe population studied apart from the polygamous Afiican societies on which Caldwellbased the African transition. In this respect the population considered resembles thescenarios seen in Latin America, the Caribbean, Botswana and in recent years Europe. Thestudy population shows a divergence in the patterns of marital and non-maritalchildbearing, with marital childbearing following the African pattem. Because of its highincidence, non-marital childbearing is dominant and the major contributor to the fertilitydecline that is afoot. The implications of this pattern needs much more in-depth studybefore comparisons with the above-mentioned communities can be made.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University