2005-06 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3)

2005-06 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) Marriage and Fertility

At current fertility levels, a woman in India will have an average of 2.7 children during her lifetime Urban women have attained replacement fertility but rural women have on an average 0.9 children more than urban women. 2.7 NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Trends in Fertility by Residence

Fertility Differentials and Trend by Caste and Religion Muslim fertility is decreasing faster than Hindu fertility; thus, Hindu-Muslim fertility differentials are narrowing. Fertility of ST and OBC women has remained unchanged.

Just a Few Years of Education Leads to Substantial Reduction in Fertility • TFR of women with • No education – 3.6 • < 5 years of education – 2.5 • 12+ years of education – 1.8 • TFR of women from • Lowest wealth quintile - 3.9 • Second lowest wealth quintile – 3.2 • Highest wealth quintile – 1.8 NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Total Fertility Rates for States INDIA NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Fertility Decline in High Fertility States Between NFHS-2 and NFHS-3 in most of the states fertility declined.

Though, fertility in the 15-19 age group is decreasing, still, a substantial proportion of teenagers have begun childbearing. • 12%of women 15-19 are already mothers • 4%of women 15-19 are pregnant with their first child • In total, 16% women 15-19 have begun childbearing NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Teenage Fertility by Age Percent who are pregnant or already mothers Age NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Age at Marriage Percentage of women age 20-24 married by age 18 NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Initiation of Childbearing • Median age at first birth for women age 25-49: • 19.8 (Total) • 20.9 (Urban) • 19.3 (Rural) Median age at first birth increased by half a year from 19.3 in NFHS-2 NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

State-Level Variation in Early Marriage of Women and Teenage Fertility NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

In most states, theproportion of women marrying by age 18 is decreasing and median age at first birth is increasing, but in a few states, the reverse is happening. • Since NFHS-2, • In Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal, the percentage of women age 20-24 married by age 18 has increased; and • In Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab, Mizoram, and West Bengal, the median age at first birth has decreased NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Birth intervals • In addition to their impact on fertility, birth intervals may also affect the health of mothers and their children • Birth intervals are also strongly associated with child mortality: • Children born too close to a previous birth are at increased risk of health problemsand of dying at an early age NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Length of Birth Intervals 61% of non-first births occur less than 36 months after the preceding birth NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Ideal Family Size and Composition 2.9 2.3 2.3 2.7 2.5 All persons Ever-married women NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

In the Majority of States, Ideal Family Size is Below 2.5: • Ideal family size of women and men 2.5 to 2.9: • Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh & Manipur • Ideal family size of women and men 3.0- 3.9 • Meghalaya, Mizoram & Nagaland NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Two-Child Family is Becoming a Norm Proportion of currently married women and men who want no more children Number of living children NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Son Preference among Women and Men Proportion of currently married women and men having 2 living children and wanting no more children NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Son Preference: Level and Trend Proportion of currently married women having 2 living children and wanting no more children

Son Preference by State • In states with replacement and below replacement-level fertility, son preference is low, but exceptions are Punjab and Maharashtra • In states with TFRbetween 2.1 and 3 son preference is lower, but exceptions are Haryana, Uttaranchal, Jammu & Kashmir, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal

Desire for No More Children by Number of Children(States with TFR >3) Proportion of currently married women having 2 living children and want no more children NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Wanted and Actual Fertility Rates TFR TFR 2.7 2.1 3.0 If unwanted fertility is averted, TFR will reach replacement level NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Key Findings The Indian woman, on average, bears 2.7 children in her lifetime Urban India has reached replacement-level fertility Ten states, comprising 35% of India’s population, have already reached replacement-level fertility; 6 more states with 20% population are nearing replacement-level fertility Early initiation of childbearing and shorter spacing of births are matters of concern NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Key Findings, contd. For most couples, a two-child family is the norm Son preference, though reducing, still persists Unwanted fertility forms a sizeable part of actual fertility and averting that is the best way to achieve replacement fertility NFHS-3, India, 2005-06

Thank You

2005-06 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3)