The evolution of the socioeconomic gap in fertility among adolescents in Chile, 1990-2011

Abstract

For research and policy issues, it is very important to measure the evolution of socioeconomic differences in the adolescent fertility rate over time (AFER) in order to be able to provide a quantitative description of such an evolution. By combining well reputed Chilean data, this study computes a ratio of AFER (15-17 years-old) between the 30% of the population living in economically worst off areas (the numerator) against the corresponding 30% better off segment of the population (the denominator). This ratio of AFER by relative socioeconomic status shows a stable evolution from 1.45 in the year 1990 to 1.10 in 2011. Sexual initiation, whose association with AFER is well established, also shows a dropping ratio, from 1.24 in 1997 to 1.01 in 2012. The size of some dimensions of socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent fertility and sexual initiation has being decreasing between 1990 and 2011. This exercise shows that even in Chile, the most unequal country among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, there are some improvements in health inequality.