Marital fertility control in a Kerala village : a microdemographic study

Rapid fertility decline in Kerala did not conform with demographic transition theory, as the decline occurred in a still predominantly rural setting. This thesis employed a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the motivation and processes of rapid fertility decline in a Kerala village. Fertility has declined in the village during the 1970s and 1980s and current fertility has reached replacement level. Though the proximate determinants are postponement of marriage and extensive use of contraceptives, the changes in these factors were the result of changing socio-economic conditions. At the time of study the singulate mean age at marriage was 29 years for males and 23 years for females, higher than elsewhere in India. Postponement of marriage was a combined effect of favourable attitudes towards higher marriage age, the expansion of education, and economic changes. Higher use of contraceptives is attributed to their availability, but seems to reflect changes in attitude that in turn reflect social and economic changes, as a result of these changes smaller families became advantageous. The factors influencing fertility decline are decreasing agricultural opportunities, expanded education and mortality decline. These changes were taking place in Kerala at the beginning of the century, but when the family planning program was implemented, there were favourable conditions for a rapid fertility decline