title: Fertility, union status and partners in the WFS Guyana and Jamaica Surveys, 1975-1976.
abstract: Abstract   In this paper differences in the level of fertility are examined according to women's union status and their number mf partners. A number of approaches are used to analyse these relationships: differentials by current union status, the pattern of union history, and a measure of the sum synthetic composed of periods spent in each type of union, are discussed. The trend in these differentials is also analysed; using earlier surveys and census data forcomparison, we find that union status differentials have changed noticeably since the 1950s. Fertility differentials by number of partners (or the second measure proposed - number of dissolutioom) are also analysed. The data suggest that the long-existing interrelationship between union history and number of partners has now resulted in changing union status differentials within the new context of increasing use of contraception.
authors.affiliation: a    World Fertility Survey, International Statistical Institute   ,  35-37 Grosvenor Gardens ,  London ,  SW1M 0BS.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Lightbourne
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh