ABSTRACT
In Chapter 10, it was seen how the major proximate determinants or intermediate factors which affect fertility — nuptiality, breastfeeding and birth control — do so by influencing women’s reproductive histories. This suggests that it might be helpful to analyse these reproductive histories directly. This analysis is the theme of this chapter. The analysis of reproductive histories is a complex and somewhat daunting undertaking, and this chapter can only serve as an introduction to some of the important issues which arise. Readers who are interested in pursuing the topic in more detail are referred to the suggestions for further reading given at the end of this chapter.
