The Specification of Fertility Planning Status.

Abstract

Fertility rates specific for reproductive intention and contraceptive use are presented for it seems that no previous attempt has been made to calculate such rates. Anticipating the outcome it becomes obvious that such considerations are essential to the study of fertility variations. Consequently it is necessary to assess the quality of information encompassed in fertility planning status. Accurate measurement of these variables is probably the most important single contribution demographers can make to national and world issues of population policy. Additionally the quality of data on exposure to risk is examined with particular attention given to sterility and fecundity contraceptive use and nonuse. Finally focus is on the uncertainty of reproductive intentions. It appears that the main obstacle to accurate measurement seems to be the disposition of the respondent to provide a reconstruction of the couples history which departs more or less from what actually occurred. Although the questionnaire itself can certainly be responsible for some difficulties it is believed that efforts to improve the research instrument in other cross-sectional surveys would produce only a small marginal yield of reduction of the inaccuracies evident in each of the major concepts. It now seems to be time to seek alternative procedures and this is the rationale for adopting a longitudinal design for the 1975 National Fertility Study and seeking data in more depth and more detail for a more circumscribed and well defined universe. Married couples in America are now close to the point of effctive planning of fertility as a result the future of reproduction in the U.S. will depend more on reproductive intentions and less on changes in the use and efficacy of contraception.