Year: 2017
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUNDSince 1990, Vital Statistics reports show a dramatic decline in the total fertility rates (TFRs) of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women in the United States. OBJECTIVEWe study whether the decrease in TFRs is due to a real change in fertility for a stable population; a compositional change in who identifies as AI/AN; or a methodological issue stemming from differences in identifying race across the data systems used to calculate fertility rates. METHODSWe use data from the decennial US Census to study change in AI/AN fertility from 1980-2010. RESULTSWe find declining TFRs when fertility is calculated within a single data system.Additionally, although TFRs are relatively stable within the subgroups of married and unmarried AI/AN women, the proportion of AI/AN women who are married has declined across birth cohorts. CONCLUSIONSThe decrease in TFRs for AI/AN women is a real change in fertility patterns and is not due to differences in racial identification across data systems.
Source: Demographic Research
Authors: Sarah Cannon, Christine Percheski
Institutions: University of Michigan, Northwestern University
Language: English
Subfield: Demography
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Reduced inequalities
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2734138703