Unrealized Fertility in Latin America

Jennifer A. Mendoza, Ohio State University

This research focuses on the end of the reproductive career, investigating the extent to which women’s childbearing desires having been realized. While wanted and unwanted fertility has been the focus of considerable research, unrealized fertility has been largely neglected. Using data from 20 Latin American countries from the late 1970s to late 2000s we conceptualize and measure unrealized fertility and conduct analyses of historical trends. We describe the association between unrealized fertility and the reproductive career by estimating the relation of age at first birth and unrealized fertility; the proportion of change in unrealized fertility over time that may be attributed to change in age at first birth; and birth-spacing patterns of women with unrealized fertility. Additionally, we compare cross-national levels of unwanted fertility with unrealized fertility to ascertain whether there is an association between unsuccessful reproductive outcomes.