Analysis of birth intervals in India's Uttar Pradesh and Kerala States
Singh, K.K.; Suchindran, C.M.; Singh, V.; Ramakumar, R.
Journal of Biosocial Science 25(2): 143-153
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9320 PMID: 8478365 DOI: 10.1017/s0021932000020459Document Number: 328236
Child spacing patterns in India are the result of a complex interaction of biological and social factors. The structure of birth intervals differs from that of Western nations. In general they are comprised of long durations of post-partum amenorrhoea associated with universal patterns of prolonged breastfeeding. Post-partum abstinence taboos also play a key role in determining birth intervals, as do religious customs. This paper examines birth intervals in India through maternity history data collected in two states, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala. Life tables of birth intervals and median birth intervals were computed for several subgroups of the population. A multivariate hazards modelling technique was used to examine the net effect of each of the variables studied. In Uttar Pradesh the objective was to study the fertility level and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, using data from a stratified sample of 19 villages in the Varanasi district and adjoining areas. The Kerala survey examined the determinants of the recent fertility decline in the state, based on data collected from 3000 rural houesholds. The results show the substantial effect of socioeconomic variables on child spacing after controlling for the major intermediate variables. High levels of health care use in Kerala have reduced infant mortality. This increased child survival may be the reason for a high percentage of women not having a third birth. Kerala also has the highest age at marriage in India although women in this group have a shorter first birth interval, tend to postpone subsequent births and are more likely to terminate childbearing after a second or third birth. A high literacy rate also has a significant effect, with more highly educated women having their first birth quickly, postponing the second birth and ceasing to terminate childbearing after the second child. The reverse is true in Uttar Pradesh. High infant mortality results in shorter birth intervals. A high percentage marry young and irrespective of their very long birth intervals, the group progresses to higher parities at a very high rate. However, average birth intervals are still larger than those of many high-fertility countries. It is suggested that in Uttar Pradesh an improvement in health standards should be accompanied by effective use of contraception to space births adequately.