Fertility Transition in Andhra Pradesh: Role of Diffusion in Use of Contraception among Illiterate Women

Abstract

Andhra Pradesh achieved faster fertility decline in a span of time. This attracted the attention of researchers in social sciences in the background of unfavourable socioeconomic conditions such as higher female illiteracy and infant mortality. This paper assesses the trends of fertility among illiterate and literate women and the role of diffusion factor on the use of contraception by illiterate-currently married women by using the data from the SRS (1996-2013) and DLHS-3(2007-08). The gap in fertility between literate and illiterate women at the initial stage was very high. However, the sharp decline in fertility of illiterate women during the latest period has led to emerging convergence in fertility rates between them. Logistic regression analysis further showed that illiterate currently-married women, who had accessed information about family planning from health personnel such as Doctors/ANM/ASHA, were more likely to use contraception as compared with those who did not access such information even after controlling socio-economic factors. Overall, the diffusion of information channel through health personnel played a significant role in the dramatic decline of fertility among illiterate women.