Reproductive Behavior and Place of Residence: Considerations for the Uruguayan Case from a Ruralities Approach

Abstract

Differences in reproductive behavior according to the area of residence have been observed in fertility research. However, in Uruguay, few studies have advanced beyond the urban-rural dichotomy. The objective of this paper is to analyze fertility differentials in Uruguay from a rural perspective. With data from the 1985, 1996 and 2011 censuses, fertility rates were examined in eight areas of residence, using population size of urban areas and the degree of dependence the economically active population has on the agricultural sector. The results show, on the one hand, a reproductive pattern that is sustained over time: although the dispersed (“rural”) population has higher levels of fertility compared to the national average, the residents of the small urban areas linked to the agricultural activity are those who exhibit – systematically – the highest rates of fertility. On the other hand, a tendency toward reproductive convergence in different geographical contexts is also observed.