Fertility Behaviour of Dalit Community (A Case Study of Gauripur VDC Ward No. 4 and 5, Laxmipur Siraha)

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to examine the "Fertility Behaviour of Dalit Community: A Case Study Gauripur VDC Ward No. 4 and 5, Laxmipur, Siraha" in terms of selected demographic and socio-economic variables, knowledge of family planning relation between CEB with education, occupation, income and age at marriage. The study included 115 currently married women of reproductive ages (15-49years) from 115 households with 735 entire family members. Household and individual level information are collected by census method. Among total Dalit population, male constitute 53.61 percent and female constitute 46.41 percent and hence the sex ratio is 115.54. About 66.13 percent people are married. The literacy rate of the Dalit population is 52.86 percent and 61.74 percent of respondent's women are illiterate. Among the total respondents 29.57 percent women are engaged in agricultural sector. 81.52 percent respondents are used of family planning method. High fertility culture is shown by these people. Women of age group 45-49 years has 5.38 mean CEB. Lower fertility behaviour has associated with literacy and having higher age at marriage. Better occupation status helps to reduce fertility. Use of contraception, age at marriage, literacy status and occupation of respondents are found to be inversely (negatively)associated with the number of fertility (CEB). In the study area most of the Dalit women are backward from social economic and educational level. Most of the Dalit women are engaged in agriculture and daily wage labour. The educational situation is very poor. In the study are a few, Dalit females are in reproductive age (15-49 years) have been attained formal education.It is argued that fertility remains high due to high child mortality. High fertility has ensured high dependency and burden. Similarly, current skewed distribution of population towards the younger ages would result high fertility in coming years.