Is development the best contraceptive? Evidences from Uttar Pradesh.

Type Working Paper - Population and development in Uttar Pradesh
Title Is development the best contraceptive? Evidences from Uttar Pradesh.
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 1997
Page numbers 137-144
URL http://www.popline.org/node/168686
Abstract
This book chapter analyzes the relationship between general levels of economic development and fertility in Uttar Pradesh, India. The study tests the hypothesis that development is the best contraceptive. Data are obtained from India's census for 1991 at the district level. Development is measured by the CMIE index of development (low, medium, and high) and by specific measures such as agricultural or industrial development, urbanization, literacy, and the couple protection rate. Population growth at the district level is measured by the intercensal growth of population during 1981-91 and the percentage of children aged 0-6 years. Findings indicate that almost 34% of the 56 districts had low levels of development, that 30% had medium levels of development, and that 36% had high levels of development. The correlation between population growth and the child/population ratio was positive and significant at low and medium levels of development and insignificant at high levels of development. The child/population ratio at the district level was not related to the CMIE index of development. This means that the interdistrict variations in fertility were not explained by the development index. However, different components of development were related to the child/population ratio. Higher levels of urbanization, literacy, and couple protection rate were negatively related with the child/population ratio. The child/population ratio was significantly positively related to agricultural development at low levels of development and negatively related to industrial development at high levels of development. Urbanization was significantly negatively related at higher levels. The strength of the relationship between literacy and the child/population ratio increased with increased level of development. The couple protection ratio was significant only at medium and high levels of development.

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