World Applied Sciences Journal 31 (10): 1828-1836, 2014 ISSN 1818-4952 © IDOSI Publications, 2014 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wasj.2014.31.10.591 Corresponding Author: Siow-Ki Lai, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 1828 Socio-Economic and Proximate Determinants of Fertility in the Philippines Siow-Li Lai and Nai-Peng Tey Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Submitted: Feb 3, 2014; Accepted: Apr 24, 2014; Published: May 8, 2014 Abstract: This paper provides an analysis of the socio-economic and proximate determinants of fertility in the Philippines, using the 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data. Fertility differentials by ethnic group, place of residence, educational attainment, women’s work and family wealth are largely due to compositional differences in age and age at marriage. Besides age at marriage, contraceptive use also plays an important role in explaining the fertility differentials. The wealth index emerges as the most important predictor of fertility in the multivariate context. Women from the poorest quintile have almost twice as many children as those from the richest quintile (4.0 versus 2.2). Younger age at first marriage/birth and limited use of modern contraception are the main reasons for the higher fertility among the poor. About one in three poorest women had unmet family planning need. The social and reproductive disadvantages associated with frequent and unplanned pregnancies are of public health concern. Key words: Philippines Children Fertility Socio-economic Education Wealth INTRODUCTION observed across ethnic groups. Education leads to The rate of population growth in the Philippines is negative correlation between fertility and urbanization is among the highest in Southeast Asia, due to its relatively also well established [4, 6, 7, 9]. Many of these socio- high level of fertility. Between 1990 and 2012, the total economic variables are inter-related and have population of the Philippines increased from 61.9 million confounding effects on fertility. to 96.7 million, at a rate of about 2 per cent per annum. This paper analyses the gross and net effects of Currently, about half of the population lives in the urban socio-economic variables on fertility in the multivariate areas. The combined gross enrolment ratio in the context, with the aim of identifying factors that contribute Philippines is about 106 per cent, 85 per cent and 28 per to fertility differentials. The effects of contraceptive use cent respectively for primary, secondary and tertiary on fertility differentials are examined by comparing the education. The health status of Filipino has seen fertility level and contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) significant improvement and life expectancy has gone up for the different sub-groups of the population. This is from about 58 years in 1960 to about 68 years today [1]. followed by an examination of the fertility-inhibiting The total fertility rate (TFR) in the Philippines effects of the proximate determinants of fertility. The declined from more than seven births per woman in the social and reproductive health implications of fertility 1960 to 3.1 in 2011 [1]. Between 1970 and 2001, the fertility differentials will be discussed. level declined by 37 per cent among women aged 25-29 and 74 per cent among those aged 45-49. However, MATERIALS AND METHODS childbearing among teenagers had increased since 1985, reversing its declining trend prior to that Demographic The data for this paper come from the 2008 surveys in the Philippines found negative correlation Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey between fertility and socio-economic variables such as (NDHS), conducted by the National Statistical Office urbanization, education, modern sector employment and (NSO) of the Philippines, under the auspices of the income [2]. Wide variations in fertility can also be Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) program. postponement of marriage and childbearing [3-8]. The