Publication:

Impact of educational attainment, caste dynamics and occupation on fertility behaviour among women in Bihar

According to the 2011 Census of India, Bihar is the most densely populated state and has a higher fertility rate than the national average. Recent findings from the NFHS-5 indicate a gradual decline in fertility rates. However, the state’s fertility level remains at three, exceeding the government’s target of two. This study examines the impact of women’s education, employment status, social status and other demographic factors on fertility behavior using NFHS-5 data from a specific district in Bihar. The district was selected based on demographic density and literacy statistics. The multinomial logistic regression method was employed to analyze the association between the total number of children ever born and various demographic characteristics. The analysis categorizes fertility behavior into three parameters: one child, two children and three children. The findings reveal a significant impact of female education and working status on fertility outcomes, validating the research hypotheses. This study underscores the critical role of socioeconomic and demographic factors in shaping fertility patterns in Bihar.