An Examination of Women’s Characteristics in Context of High Fertility: A Comparative Study between Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh

Protap Mukherjee, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Murali Dhar Vemuri, Jawaharlal Nehru University

While the southern states like Tamil Nadu has reached below replacement level, the northern states like Uttar Pradesh is yet to achieve this. NFHS-3 (2005-06) data reveal that percentage of birth order of more than three is only 7.0 in Tamil Nadu whereas this value is more than 5 times (38.0) for Uttar Pradesh. An important question that needs to be addressed the reasons for lack of reduction in fertility in North India in general and in Uttar Pradesh in particular. In this paper we examine the causes of high fertility for only those women who have more than three children. Using NFHS-1 (conducted in 1992-93) and NFHS-3, we compare the characteristics of women with high fertility in Uttar Pradesh with the women who had high fertility in Tamil Nadu. Our findings reveal that social and economic settings of the states have significant effects on fertility.