The Hmong, the 2nd largest hill group with a patriarchal social structure inhabiting an area in Northern Thailand, number 80,000 and exhibit a high rate of fertility, but family planning is apt to gain converts among them after many years of exposure. Fertility decline has been explained by demographic transition theories citing urbanization, industrialization, literacy, and various socioeconomic and sociocultural factors. In 1987 a community survey was conducted involving almost all Hmong villages plus 37 households of recent arrivals. Data were gathered on 1000 households (average of 8 persons/household) with 2000 ever-married women interviewed. The survey of 8 villages with data on 457 ever-married women aged 14-49 was evaluated in detail. The average Hmong woman has 7 births with 6 children surviving. The slash-and-burn farming the Hmong practice needs a high number of children, especially sons. The average age for marriage was 20 for men and 18 for women. 2/3 of married women wanted 3-6 children and the mean total was 5 children. Among contraceptive methods 99% knew about sterilization, 52% about the IUD, 40% about induced abortion, and 8% about the implant (Norplant). A 1987 study indicated that 90% of another Hmong group were familiar with the pill, injectables, and tubal ligation. 30% were using modern contraceptives (vs. 70% nationally), and the rate was higher in the 30-44 age group. 3/4 of users relied on injectables, sterilization, and implants. 88.5% of users wanted to space or stop births. 71.1% of nonusers wanted more children. 13.1% of nonusers feared side effects and 8.6% lacked knowledge about family planning. Nonusers were highest in traditional villages. Fertility is likely to stay high for some time, but family planning programs stressing child spacing and maternal- child health could reduce it eventually.
Keyword(s)
reproduction rate, article, Asia, birth rate, child, Child Worth, contraception, Contraceptive Implants, Contraceptive Methods, Contraceptive Usage, cultural anthropology, Cultural Background, Demographic Factors, Demographic Transition, demography, developing country, Economic Factors, economics, ethnic group, family planning, Family Planning Programs, female sterilization, fertility, Fertility Measurements, health care planning, Injectables, injection, Microeconomic Factors, population, population and population related phenomena, population dynamics, sexual behavior, Southeast Asia, Southeastern Asia, Thailand, Developing Countries, Ethnic Groups, Fertility Rate, Population Characteristics, Sterilization, Sexual, Asia, Southeastern, Contraception Behavior, Culture, Health Planning, Injections
