Revelations on Grandmotherhood among High Fertility Women in the Philippines

Socorro A. Gultiano, University of San Carlos
Judith B. Borja, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Josephine Avila, University of San Carlos

The Philippines is possibly the only Southeast Asian country that is still experiencing protracted fertility decline and gradual aging of its population. Yet few studies have examined the intergenerational implications of this demographic scenario on Filipino households. Using data from 1,977 mothers aged 38-71 years participating in the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS), this study provides a characterization of grandmotherhood among aging, high-fertility Filipino women. The CLHNS women had an average of 6 children; 80% had 6 grandchildren on average of which 27% were co-residing with them. The grandmothers were caregivers to 78% of co-resident grandchildren and 26% of those living elsewhere. They also provided financial support to 19% of the latter. Grandmothers who were older, less educated, lived in urbanized areas, and were either wage workers or not working at all, tended to have more grandchildren living with them. These findings have important implications on grandmothers' welfare.