Fertility Behaviour of Kami Community (A Case Study of Phungling VDC, Taplejung)

Abstract

The study aims to examine the fertility behaviour of Kami Community a socio-economically and politically impoverished caste/ethnic group of Nepal scattered inthe hill belt. It presents the findings from analyses of interviewed data from PhunglingVDC, Taplejung district. The study sample induced 134 eligible women ofreproductive age group from total 132 household of Kami with 721 entire family members. Data were obtained on household and individual information related to explain fertility performance from the survey conducted during January, 2011.Analysis of fertility behaviour were carried out by using cross tables, mean tables with selected dependent and independent variables. Children Ever Born (CEB) is usedas an indicator of fertility behaviour.Among the total Kamis male constitutes 49.24 percent and the sex ratio is 96.94. High concentration of population seems in the age group 10-14 years, 15-19 years and 5-9 years i.e. 13.73 percent, 13.31 percent and 13.18 percent respectively. About 57 percent people were in the married category having about 1 percent higher of females.Out of the total eligible women, 31.35 percent were married within the age of 15-16years. The literacy rate of Kami was 77.16 percent of this VDC but only 59.70eligible women were literate. Out of literate eligible women 22.5 percent had informaleducation and 30 percent had primary education. The people were dominantly involved as wage labour in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors both, Out of to taleligible women, 79.10 percent had knowledge about family planning method. 70.15percent were found current users any one of the method of contraception out of totalever users 63.21 percent.High fertility culture was shown by Kami People women of age group 45-49years had3.33 mean CEB. Lower fertility behaviour was associated with literate and havinghigher age at marriage. Higher fertility behaviour was associated with wage labour and contraception use showed lower mean CEB.It is argued that fertility remains high due to high child mortality. High fertility has ensured high dependency and burden. Similarly current distribution of population towards the younger ages would result high fertility level in some years to come.