Notes on the reproductive behavior of the self-declared indigenous populations in Brazil - Demographic Censuses of 1991 and 2000

Abstract

This article presents the reproductive profile of women enumerated in the Federal Brazilian Censuses of 1991 and 2000 who had declared themselves indigenous. Details are presented of the levels and patterns of fertility by situation of household, geographic region and time of residence. The data, based on urban indigenous women, show a transition to lower fertility levels. This group present TFTs close to replacement level, especially in the northeastern region of the country. Persistently high fertility levels prevail in rural areas and are extremely high in some cases. The pattern of fertility by age shows concentration at younger ages, following the general trend in the country. These data indicate widespread control over fertility by indigenous women in urban areas and lack of such control in the rural areas. Although more research is needed, and without going into details on the composition of this self-declared indigenous population, the findings suggest strong dichotomy between rural and urban indigenous populations. The two respective fertility rates, which are, respectively, very high and very low, may indicate a different reality for each of these sectors. Additionally, if rural-to-urban migration becomes a general trend among the Brazilian indigenous population, it is to be expected that very low levels of fertility will consolidate in this population.