Accumulated reproductive life histories and grip strength in Indonesia: a life course latent class analysis approach

Tiziana Leone , LSE
Heini Väisänen, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)
Evi Nurvidya, University of Brunei Darussalam

There is a growing need to understand the impact of the cumulative burden of reproductive lives on women’s health later in life in the global South where populations are ageing fast while maternal mortality and morbidity are still high and the level of resources chronically low for decades. We don’t know how adverse reproductive events such as unplanned high fertility, unsafe abortions, stillbirths and terminations might affect physical functioning and muscle strength later in life. Grip strength has been widely recognised as a suitable objective measure of health deterioration but so far there are only few studies in low-resource countries and none linked to reproductive histories. Using a three-step latent class modelling to analyse the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) the aim of this study is to understand the impact of cumulative reproductive histories on ageing, through grip strength later in life. Results show a two-class classification with women in one class showing the positive impact of low parity on grip strengths, the negative impact of child death in the other class and in both classes the negative impact of stillbirths. Early childbearing (before age 18) and pre-menopause also show a negative impact on grip strength. This study demonstrates the need to undertake research in this field and it is set within the greater need to understand how high fertility might affect the ageing process of women in a low-income setting. This is crucial for health systems readiness and to pave the way to appropriate health and social care reforms.

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 Presented in Session 84. Flash session Life Course