An Analysis of Socio-Economic and Demographic Differentials on Fertility ( A Case Study of Machchhegaon VDC, Kathmandu)

Abstract

The study of the socio-economic and demographic differentials on fertility is based on primary data which has been collected from the sampling type survey of Machchhegaon VDC. The study included 120ever married women of reproductive age group from 120households. Outof the total population, 42.7 percent are males and 57.2 percent are females accounting the sex ratio of 74.5. One hundred twenty ever married women of reproductive age (15-49 years) were successfully interviewed from one hundred and twenty households in the study area. The head of households were interviewed to present the general socio-economic and demographic characteristics of Machchhegaon VDC and women of reproductive age were in interviewed to examine there relationship between demographic and socio-economic variables and fertility differential. Among the total population of 487 aged 6 years and above, 52.4percent of both sexes are found to be literate and remaining 47.5 percent are illiterate. Similarly, among the total population age 10 years and above, 42.6 percent people are involved in agriculture in both sexes where as 30.0 percent people have below 1 Ropani land. The total married women aged 15-49 years are found 32.4 percent in the study area. The analysis of demographic factors shows that the age of women and duration of marriage are positively associated with fertility where as age at marriage is found negatively associated with fertility.Similarly, child loss experience is positively related with fertility.Occupational status and use of contraception are found negatively associated with fertility.