Proximate Determinants and Their Influences on Fertility Reduction in Vietnam

Every country has a desire to balance its population growth according to its socioeconomic conditions. Three major components affecting population growth are fertility, mortality and migration, and among these components, fertility plays the most important role. A number of factors such as social, cultural, economic, health and other environmental factors directly determine fertility. Davis and Blake (1956) first introduced the term intermediate variables of fertility to describe the biological and behavioral mechanisms through which social, economic and cultural conditions can affect fertility. Bongaarts (1978) later developed a model that quantified the effects of the intermediate variables on fertility. Bongaarts and Potter (1983) identified four key variables or principal proximate determinants that account for most crosscountry variation in fertility levels which are marriage, contraceptive use, induced abortion, and postpartum infecundability. Bulatao and Lee (1984) studied the determinants of fertility and attempted to reach conclusions that are relevant for fertility reduction policies in developing countries. They suggest that socio-economic development has a decisive effect in lowering fertility in the long run but in the short run, and for specific households, the effect is not conclusive. The study concludes that education, especially of women, fairly and reliably reduces fertility, though its effect may take years to appear. Improved health and lower mortality also contribute to lower fertility, through both biological and behavioral channels. The effect of female employment, in contrast, is uncertain and undependable. The other determinants, i.e., fertility behaviors such as later marriage, longer breastfeeding and more frequent fertility regulation through contraception or abortion are also explored.