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Reproductive Characteristics

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Encyclopedia of Immigrant Health

Reproductive characteristics are defined as the behaviors that are acceptable, unacceptable, and the societal expectations of a particular immigrant group as they relate to sexual activity, marriage, and childbearing. Most countries recognize marriage as the societal norm, but many have been faced with teen and unwanted pregnancies which add to the burden of poverty. This is a growing problem in many countries as the result of the limited availability of contraceptive education and affordable options. Family planning and the availability of birth control still evade women as preventive methods to control unwanted pregnancies. The issue of reproductive rights still remains a topic that is not discussed in many communities.

The number of children that a couple conceives is usually not predetermined unless they are living in countries that limit the number of childbirths as an economic incentive. Many communities believe that a greater number of children conceived is a significant sign of...

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  • Callister, L. C., Corbett, C., Reed, S., Tomoo, C., & Thornton, K. G. (2010). Giving birth: The voices of Ecuadorian women. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, 24(2), 146–154.

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  • Campos, B., Schetter, C. D., Abdou, C. M., Hobel, C. J., Glynn, L. M., & Sandman, C. A. (2008). Familialism, social support, and stress: Positive implications for pregnant Latinas. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14(2), 155–162.

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  • Kelly, U. A. (2009). “I’m a mother first”: The influence of mothering in the decision- making processes of battered immigrant Latino women. Research in Nursing & Health, 32(3), 286–297.

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  • Ozik, J., Hunt, B. R., & Ott, E. (2005). Formation of multifractal population patterns from reproductive growth and local resettlement. Physical Review. E: Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics, 72(4), 046213.

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Larkins-Pettigrew, M.D. (2012). Reproductive Characteristics. In: Loue, S., Sajatovic, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Immigrant Health. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5659-0_654

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5659-0_654

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-5655-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-5659-0

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