Title: Brazil: changes in nuptiality and their fertility implications.

POPLINE Document Number: 092740

Author(s):

Henriques MH

Source citation:

In: International Population Conference/Congres International de la Population, New Delhi, September/septembre 20-27, 1989. Vol. 3. Liege, Belgium, International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, 1989. :163-74.

Abstract:

This paper investigates in Brazil 1) recent changes in nuptiality, 2) whether these nuptiality changes have played a role in fertility changes, and 3) long range implications of the current union system. This paper deals with 3 data sources: population censuses, national annual household surveys, and the 1986 Brazilian Demographic Health Survey. Religious-only marriages have declined in popularity, but legal unions are still considered advantageous. Consensual unions are on an upward swing, having grown from 6.5% in 1960 to 11.8% in 1980 of all marriage forms. It may be that reporting of consensual unions has improved due to the liberalization of customs. On the other hand, the recent legalization of divorce and the overall increase in the number of separations from legal marriages--from 1.75 in 1970 to 7.38 in 1980 per 10,000 persons aged 15 and over--might have led people to use consensual unions to test their compatibility before moving on to marriage. The rural-urban distribution of legal and consensual marriages is quite similar. Women in consensual unions are on average less educated than those in legal unions. Women in consensual unions are less likely to use contraception. Fertility levels are similar; the largest difference is .4-.5 children in women aged 20-34. The recent increase in the preference of women for consensual unions seems to be strongest in 2 specific groups within the population: 1) the younger age cohorts (under age 25), and 2) the urban sector. It is likely that the trend toward consensual unions will increase.

Keywords:

Brazil
Consensual Union
Marriage Patterns
Divorce
Religion
Age Factors
Urban Population
Rural Population
Socioeconomic Factors
Differential Fertility
Changes
Women
Developing Countries
South America, Eastern
South America
Latin America
Americas
Nuptiality
Marriage
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Economic Factors
Fertility
Population Dynamics
Social Change