Trends in births and deaths in South Indian plantations
Rahamathullah, V.
Tropical Doctor 11(4): 173-174
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0049-4755 PMID: 7292596 DOI: 10.1177/004947558101100408Document Number: 386816
This paper reports on an analysis of the birth and deaths among the 1,252,540 plantation workers in South India during 1978. 230,000 workers from 40% of the member estates of the United Planters' Association of South India were surveyed. Data from 102,063 are analyzed in this report. There were 3131 live births in the population studied; the crude birth rate was 30.6/1000. A general downward trend in the birth rate occurred from 1971-75. In 1976 a rise in the birth rate to 37.3/1000 occurred. Between 1972-75 an intensive family planning program was developed. The result of this program was that 37% sterilization was achieved. There is a significant shift in the number of births according to parity. In 1975-76, only 51.1% of births were among women with 3 or less children. Of 80,252 women who delivered, 81.1% were by women under 29 years of age. 75% of the women who delivered were having 3 or less children. The birth rate has dropped from 40.07/1000 in 1971 to 30.6/1000 in 1978. The crude death rate in 1971 was 9.5 and in 1978 was 6.2/1000. In 1971 the infant mortality rate was 118/1000 live births; in 1978 this rate dropped to 70.2/1000. 43.3% of the infant deaths were of children aged 1 week or less. Maternal deaths occur at a rate of 3.4/1000 deliveries.