Parity Progression Ratios and Birth Intervals in Mozambique 1987-2007

Francisco Macaringue, Alberto João Macaringue and Julia Rodrigues Pessane
Adriana Miranda-Ribeiro, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)
Laura L. R. R. Wong, Cedeplar/Ufmg

Parity Progression Ratios and birth intervals in Mozambique 1987-2007 Abstract This article seeks to contribute to the knowledge of the dynamics of fertility in Mozambique from 1987 to 2007. This research provides results of the evolution of fertility in the country, from the parity progression ratios and the length of the births intervals obtained from the histories of reconstructed births from the 1997 and 2007 Censuses. The results point to the control of fertility among women residing in Metropolitan Maputo and in the urban Rest. The rural area where about 70% of the population resides, there are no clear signs of falling fertility. Decreases of the parity progression ratios are more pronounced in younger cohorts. Regarding the births intervals for women with 45-49 years with high parity we found a high percentage of women who did not have children in the older cohorts suggest the limitation of births. Key words: Mozambique, parity progression ratios and birth intervals