Abstract

MENDEZ, Marta Graciela  and  FERRARINI, Stella Ofelia. Chorote reproduction in numbers. Cuad. Fac. Humanid. Cienc. Soc., Univ. Nac. Jujuy [online]. 2016, n.49, pp.199-216. ISSN 1668-8104.

The numeric expression of reproductive decisions reflects the evolutionary strategies of a human group. We tried to understand the bio-demographic mechanisms, with center in reproduction and fertility, inside the bioculturalChorote context. The reproductive histories of 71 women were studied with at least a son. It was registered births, mothers' ages and the children's sex. Descriptive statistical of the variables were calculated and they were related through significance tests. The specific rates of fecundity and the average number of the descendant that a woman theoretically will reach were computed. The mean age at the first birth is of 20,2 years. The average length of the intergenesic intervals is 3,2 years and it shortens as the women advance in its fertile interval. A tendency is manifested to shorter spacing in women with beginning straggler of the maternity. Fertility rate fx is 5,5, with early starting and late ending. The initiation of the reproduction shows a tendency to prolong the stage of growth and to improve health and nutrition conditions to face successive pregnancies. The mean age of the different parities agrees with that of populations of natural fertility with a final size of the offspring moderated in relation to other group's hunter-gatherers. The longitude of the intergenesic interval is significant in relation to the child's sex that opens it, favoring the daughters. It is interpreted as a reproductive decision slanted by the matrilocality with evolutionary foundation

Keywords : Chorote; reproductive history; first birth; interbirth intervals; sex of the children.