Fertility patterns within the Mexican‐American population

Abstract

When standardized for rural-ruban residence Mexican-Americans have a higher fertility rate than any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S. Among women in urban areas between the ages of 35 and 49 the average number of children for Mexican-Americans is 50% greater than for blacks and about 70% greater than for native whites. After 3 generations in the U.S. Mexican-Americans have reproductive levels more characteristic of nonindustrial populations. Yet within the Mexican-American population the middle class has the same size families as other whites. These findings suggest the possibility that it is involvement rather than presence only that affects modification in reproductive behavior. A lack of knowledge of Mexican-American fertility results in the absence of any information on desired family size. Without this data it cannot be determined to what extent the high fertility of the lower class results from their desire for large families or from their inability to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Future trends in Mexican-American fertility are most likely to be associated with how rapidly the group accomplishes upward social mobility and increased involvement in U.S. society although family planning services will possibly have some effect. Mexican-Americans have become more and more dissatisfied with their disadvantaged circumstances and their efforts to change existing conditions may directly affect their reproductive behavior.

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