Factors associated with higher fertility in South India: Evidence from district-level household survey 4

Background: As we aim to embark on a world free of preventable deaths in maternal health, the importance of regulating fertility claims more attention. In India, a country with low resources, this approach is crucial in facing the challenge amid population burst. Chasing the same aim, the country is yet to register targeted total fertility rate of 2.1 at some of its pockets. Aim: This study, analyzing data from District-Level Household Survey 4, tried to assess the association between high birth order (HBO, defined as birth order three or more among women aged between 15 and 49 years) and major sociodemographic factors in South India. Materials and Methods: District was the unit for analysis. From South India, 98 districts were considered. Correlation coefficient was determined to know the association between HBO and six variables: marriage <18 years, married illiterate women, use of modern contraceptives, pregnant women who had three or more antenatal care visits, consumption of 100 or more iron tablets/syrup equivalent, and institutional delivery (ID). Scatter plot was used to show the effect of demographic variables on HBO. Results: Proportion of marriage