FAMILY BACKGROUND AND EARLY-LIFE COURSE TRANSITIONS IN KINSHASA

Drawing on a sample of approximately 2,400 women aged 13-49 surveyed i n Kinshasa, Zaire, in 1990, this article examines the impact of aspect s of a woman's family background on transitions to sexual activity mar riage, and motherhood. We document how parental education, parental su rvival status, the number of siblings, and the type of place where a w oman grew up are important for these transitions to adult roles. Our f indings suggest that continued increases in educational levels should contribute to delays in these life course transitions and ultimately t o some reductions infertility.