Jamaica Sees Decline in Birth Rates: Reproductive Health Survey

Jamaica’s Reproductive Health Survey (RHS) for 2021, recently unveiled by the National Family Planning Board (NFPB), unveils significant shifts in the country’s fertility landscape.

According to the findings presented by Professor Affette McCaw-Binns, a notable decline in Jamaica’s total fertility rate (TFR) has been observed, plummeting from 4.5 births per female during 1973-1975 to a mere 1.9 in 2021.

This decrease in fertility rates has contributed to an overall reduction in the country’s population estimate.

McCaw-Binns highlighted that while fertility rates dropped across most age groups, there was a slight uptick in the 25-29 age bracket, possibly indicating a trend of delayed childbearing as women pursue higher education.

The TFR, representing the average number of children expected to be born to a woman throughout her lifetime, now stands below the replacement level of 2.1.

McCaw-Binns emphasised that achieving replacement-level fertility has long been a goal, as outlined in Jamaica’s National Population Policy established in 1983, which aimed to achieve this through the provision of high-quality family planning services.

The RHS 2021, conducted as a household survey involving 3,224 females and 1,784 males aged 15-49, collected data between August 2021 and April 2022.

Participants were distributed across rural and urban areas, with 61% in unions and 39% not.

Principal investigators from NFPB and co-investigators from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) collaborated on the study.

Objectives ranged from assessing progress toward replacement-level fertility to informing sexual and reproductive health policies and programs.

This marks the eighth RHS since its inception in 1975, reflecting a continuous effort to monitor and evaluate contraceptive services and reproductive health trends in Jamaica.

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