Resumo

WELTI CHANES, Carlos. The fertility surveys in Mexico and the upsurge of adolescent fertility as a research issue. Pap. poblac [online]. 2006, vol.12, n.50, pp.253-275. ISSN 2448-7147.

This article makes reference to some of the most important aspects of the fertility research in Mexico, through the analysis of demographic surveys carried out in a period of forty years -since the sixties-, whose aims were to estimate the level and trends of fertility and its determinants. The author tries to show how each successive survey includes new areas of interest which reflect the characteristics of the fertility decline paying special attention to the analysis of adolescent fertility. The fertility decline that took place in Mexico has been so significant that in recent years the total fertility rate has reached the replacement level, this means around two children per woman. Although women in all age groups diminished their fertility, the contribution of women under age 20 to the total fertility has been more and more important and a subject of special concern not only demographically, but also for its social implications.

Palavras-chave : adolescents; fertility; demographic surveys; population growth; México.