India's north-south divide and theories of fertility change

Abstract

Economic condition and women's status have been considered important elements in understanding fertility change. In this study, we examine their influence on North-South differences in parity-specific fertility intentions and births in India using the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-2) conducted in 1998-1999. The results show the persistence of spatial variations in fertility intentions and births, net of economic and women's status factors. The influence of these factors is more pronounced in the high fertility region. This study argues that changes in fertility desires and their actualization may be better understood when situated within the broader socio-political context. © 2009 Springer Science & Business Media BV.