Fertility Behaviour of The Musahar Community (A Case Study of Agyauli, Kawasoti and Pithuli Vdc of Nawalparasi district)

Abstract

The study on the "Fertility Behaviour of Musahar Community" in NawalparasiDistrict was carried out by collecting primary data by census method from sampledVDC Agyauli, Kawasoti and Pithauli. The total populationsof these VDC are 447 andtotal households are 99.The study sample included 109 eligible women ofreproductive age group from total 99 household and individual information related toexplain fertility performance from the survey conducted during June, 2008. Analysis of fertility behaviour was carried out by using cross table and mean tableswith selected dependent and independent variables. Children ever born (CEB) wereused as an indicator of fertility behaviour. Among the total Musahar population male constitute 48.8 percent and sex ratio is 95.1percent. High concentration seems in the age group 5-9 years and 10-14 years i.e. 14.9percent and 14.4 percent respectively of females out of the eligible women, 73.1percent were married within the age of 15-16 years. The literacy rate of musaharwas28.4 percent but the moreeligible women were illiterate i.e. 67.1 percent. Who wereliterate out of them 41.3 percent had only primary education. The people weredominantly involved as fishing. Out of total eligible women, 77.9 percent hadknowledge about family planning method. High fertility culture was shown by these people. Women of age group 30-34 yearshad 3.8 mean CEB. Lower fertility behaviour was assisted with literate and havinghigher age at marriage. Better occupation status helps to reduce fertility but the higheruse of contraception showed higher CEB. It is argued that fertility remains high due to high child mortality. High fertility hasensured high dependency and burden. Similarly current skewed distribution ofpopulation towards the young ages would result high fertility level in some year tocome.