| Spacing Between Births in Odisha, India |
| Authors: |
Harihar Sahoo |
| Source: |
Marriage & Family Review, 49(7): 585-605; DOI: 10.1080/01494929.2013.803006 |
| Topic(s): |
Birth interval
Fertility
|
| Country: |
Asia
India
|
| Published: |
SEP 2013 |
| Abstract: |
Birth spacing is of considerable importance to study the tempo and quantum of fertility. Using data from the National Family Health Survey III, this study explored the birth interval dynamics in Odisha, an eastern state of India. The life table analysis of spacing between births clearly suggests that birth spacing in the recent past has increased and the proportion of women moving to the second, third, and fourth parity has declined, leading to the decline in fertility in Odisha. From the proportional hazards model, educational level of women, age of women at previous birth, sex and survival status of the previous child, and the period effect are found to be important determinants of birth spacing at higher parities. Socioeconomic differences do not show a large effect at lower order births. This highlights the fact that most women in Odisha, regardless of their background characteristics, tend to have second births. |
|