[Questions 38 and 39(a) were asked of those who had at least one live birth]

39. Numbers of live births/still births

39(b). How many still births did (N) [the respondent] have during the past twelve (12) months?

This Section will provide information on fertility of all females' 14 years and over. The census, moreover, seeks to obtain supplementary data of demographic interest than that provided from the Registrar's General Office.

The data collected are of even greater importance when cross-classified and analyzed by marital and union status, religion, ethnicity and other socioeconomic factors like occupational and educational attainment. Two examples of measures of fertility that can be obtained from the census are the ratio of young children to women of childbearing age and the number of children ever born to women. Additionally, fertility studies could be extended to population groups or communities within Trinidad and Tobago.

[p.58]

Fertility simply indicates the rate at which women of childbearing age are having children. This will have a direct impact on resource allocation in terms of medical, educational, health and training facilities.

Question 39 (b) -Number of still births past twelve (12) months

The number of still births are recorded separately in question 39(b). Remember that a Still Birth occurs when a baby is born dead i.e. shows no signs of life at birth. It is possible, although the rate of occurrence is low, for a woman to have more than one delivery in the twelve (12) months preceding enumeration.