Intergenerational transmission of age at first birth from mothers to child in Uruguay

Abstract

Several studies have shown the intergenerational transmission of the age at first childbirth from mothers to their offspring. However, in Latin America and the Caribbean, knowledge about this process is limited. This study aims to contribute to the regional literature by analyzing the intergenerational transmission of the age at first childbirth in Uruguay. Using data from the National Survey of Reproductive Behaviors (2015), event history analysis was applied to assess the risk of experiencing the first birth, and discrete-time logistic regression models were used to identify differences based on the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents and their mothers, as well as the attributes of the households where they were raised. The results indicate that the mother’s age at first birth significantly influences the age at which respondents had their first child, for both men and women, and this relationship holds even when controlling for factors such as age, ethnic-racial background, place of residence (Montevideo or outside the capital), and educational level.

Keywords:
Fertility; Intergenerational transmission; Age at first birth; Uruguay