Abstract

Fertility preferences or the number of children individuals or couples wish to have are strong predictors of actual fertility. Being so, these preferences are meaningful indicators that shape reproductive decision-making and demographic outcomes. In population studies, extensive literature exists on fertility preferences, but cultural influences on these preferences among indigenous populations remain understudied. This paper therefore examines the fertility preferences of young people in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) of the Philippines, where Indigenous Peoples constitute the majority population, and investigates sociodemographic factors associated with fertility preferences between Cordilleran and Non-Cordilleran youth. 

Using data from the 2013 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey (YAFS)—a cross-sectional survey of Filipino young adults aged 15–24,  the study provides evidence that Cordilleran youth have a significantly higher mean desired number of children compared to Non-Cordilleran youth. Statistically significant differences in fertility preferences between the two groups were found across sociodemographic indicators which include age, gender, social status, education and media exposure. Contrary to patterns observed in earlier research, the survey results show that contemporary influences such as higher educational attainments and wider access to internet resources did not reduce fertility preferences among the Cordilleran youth respondents suggesting that other factors figure into these preferences. Thus, this paper examines cultural dimensions of fertility preferences to illustrate the intersection of culture and reproduction. It aims to offer insights that can inform a more nuanced and culturally responsive approach to reproductive health initiatives and programs for indigenous communities.

Keywords: Fertility preferences, Cordillera youth, Indigenous Peoples’ reproductive health, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), cultural factors

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64743/MRHQBW86