A descriptive study of desire for more children in Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Introduction: In our society, children are considered as an important part of the families. Most of the couples expect children to act as their successor as well as the preserver of new generation. Most of the married couples want their own children and they proceed to bear and rear them. Objective: The objective of this paper is to study the desire for more children pertaining to demographic and socio-economic characteristics of households in Uttar Pradesh. Result: Out of total respondents 45.2% have more than two children. However, 38.4% and 19.9% of respondents have less than and exactly two children respectively. Among the respondents having less than two children 92% showed desire for another child, however around 52% among the respondents have exactly two children. Out of total sample selected, 80% of population resided in rural areas while 20% in urban areas. 37% of the couples residing in urban areas have desire for another child compared to 54% in rural areas. The education status of women can reduce the demand of additional child and in maintaining family size. The regression coefficient of no education and middle class education are 0.607 and 0.269 respectively with reference to category (Highest education of ever married women). The odds ratio corresponding to no education and middle class education are 1.836 and 1.309 respectively which indicate the desire for additional child is inversely proportional to educational level. Among the religious groups, 84% of respondents are Hindus and 16% are non- Hindus. Through NFHS-2, probability of contraceptive use is higher in Hindus than non-Hindus and the results are statistically significant. The logistic regression coefficient corresponding to the numbers of living children below 2 and above 2 are 1.534 and -1.300 respectively and are statistically significant. Number of living children exactly 2 is considered as reference category because in order to achieve the replacement level fertility the number of living children should not exceed 2. The odds ratios of below 2 and above 2 children are 4.637 and 0.273 respectively. The results indicate that women who were having less than 2 children have higher and women having more than 2 children have lower desire for additional children with respect to women having 2 children. Conclusion: The desire for additional child is more in women having no formal education, women of SC/ST category, having female children, last child died, non-Hindus, low standard living index and rural areas. Therefore, the positive impact of family planning programme and importance of smaller family norm should be included in the curriculum of education especially in the secondary level and motivational activities should be targeted to reduce these differentials. © 2014, Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development. All rights reserved.