%0 Journal Article
%T Fertility patterns of adolescent and older women in Pacific Island countries: programme implications.
%A House WJ
%A Ibrahim N
%J Asia Pac Popul J
%V 14
%N 2
%D Jun 1999
%M 12349401
暂无%X This paper investigates the fertility patterns of adolescent and older women in the Pacific Island countries.  Using the age-specific fertility rate for females aged 15-19 years old, an attempt to measure the overall rate of fertility pattern among adolescents was made.  It was observed that adolescent fertility has declined over the years in the Pacific Island countries at a time when overall fertility was declining for all women, particularly in Polynesia.  Another determinant for fertility pattern includes the rate of childbearing among older women. Although a decrease in childbearing rate was noted, fertility among women 35 years and older remain significantly higher compared with adolescents.  Despite these extensive problems, the public sector and the nongovernmental organizations have neglected to address the unmet needs of these women.  Several reasons have been mentioned that has caused the problem, which include: inconvenience or unsatisfactory services; ignorance or lack of information; and the unavailability of reliable contraceptive methods and services.  This report suggests the need to implement programs aimed at addressing the unmet needs of fecund older women in current and future reproductive health and family planning programs.