Proximate determinants of fertilty in Mongolia

Abstract

Variations in fertility in a population occur basically due to variations in one or more of the proximate determinants of fertility. This paper analyses the fertility effects of the major proximate determinants in Mongolia by using the Bongaarts framework. The analyses include the examination of the impact of each proximate determinant on the national fertility level, as well as its variations by social background characteristics of women, such as place of residence, income and educational level.

Examination of the effects of the major proximate determinants of fertility in Mongolia, using the Bongaarts framework reveals that fertility levels of women with different background characteristics vary significantly due to variations in the proximate determinants.

Overall, the fertility level in Mongolia is largely influenced by a decline in the proportions married among women of reproductive age, the individual effect of which is to reduce the total fecundity by 6.0 live births per woman. The next largest contributor to the decline of total fecundity (TF) is current use of contraception, the individual effect of which is to reduce the TF by 4.35 live births per woman. However, the total abortion rate (TAR) is relatively high in Mongolia. The analysis shows that women who fail to use effective methods of contraception are likely to control their fertility through induced abortion.