A study of Socio-demographic factors and fertility in a village of Western Maharashtra

Abstract

Background: In India rural population was reported to be 66%.there is gap in fertility of rural and urban population.
Worldwide, fertility rates have fallen from an average of about six children per woman in the 1950s to fewer than three
today. Total fertility rate (TFR) gives approximate magnitude of the completed family size. Objectives: To describe sociodemographic
factors and ascertaining relationship of fertility with socio-demographic factors in a rural area of Maharashtra.
Results: A total 292 families were interviewed from Dahitane village; Majority Head of family were Hindu males (90%).
About 93% population resided in their own houses in that 63% houses were semi-pucca. Houses having electricity supply, in
house water connection and in-house latrines were 91%, 39% and 61% respectively. Total fertility rate (TFR) was found to
be 1.71 and not significantly associated with socioeconomic class and female literacy. Conclusions: The present study
showed betterment in water supply and sanitation facility in rural dwellings in spite of the predominance of semi-pucca
house.