ABSTRACT
The intr iguing debate regarding the role of nutr i t ion and workload i n human reproductive functioning has drawn considerable attention (NYAS Conference 1993). On the one hand, i t has been observed that women of marginal nutrit ional status engaged i n long days of arduous activities often average seven or eight pregnancies and may have as many as twelve or thirteen. I n an evaluation of data from populations worldwide, Bon gaarts (1980) concluded that, except i n cases of famine, nutritional factors play a very minor role i n the fertility levels of women i n developing coun tries. I n general, the work of human demographers lends support to this position (e.g., Bongaarts and Potter 1983; Menken et al. 1981).
