The role of proximate determinants in the decline of fertility below replacement level in urban northeast India

Dilip C. Nath, Gauhati University
Debashish Mazumder, Gauhati University

This paper examines the role of proximate determinants of below replacement fertility in a traditional society living an urban area of the Northeast India. The total fertility rate (TFR) in this urban society declined moderately from 2.49 to 1.94 children per women between 1991-99 indicates the early transition of fertility has been started in the population. Bongaarts framework of the proximate determinants of fertility has been modified suitably to account the magnitude of each of the four proximate determinants for this fertility decline. The study is based on survey conducted by Gauhati University during two different point of time, 1992 and 2000-2002. The total fecundity rate is estimated in the present study as 14 and 12.2 in 1991 and 1999 respectively, which is lower than Bongaarts standard of 15.3. The result of decomposition analysis indicates that post partum ammenorrhoea and contraceptive practices are important mechanism by which fertility has declined.