Education, Religion, Development and Regional Patterns of Fertility in West Bengal (original) (raw)

The current study analyses the impact of religion, education, and development on the spatial pattern of fertility in West Bengal, where different religions groups live together. Using the data from Fertility Tables of Census of India, 2011, it has considered the parameters of 'parity progression ratios', 'projected parity progression ratios',' TFR', 'age-order specific fertility rates', and 'cumulated order-specific fertility rates' and accordingly analysed. Multiple regression analysis has been used to determine the impact of development and use of contraceptive on fertility in West Bengal, while logistic regression analysis to understand the impact of religion and education on fertility. West Bengal has the lowest total fertility rate (TFR, 2.42) in the country (TFR, 2.89) and its spatial pattern shows that its four southern districts (Haora, Kolkata, South 24 Parganas and Purba Mednipur) and four eastern districts (Burdwan, Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Hugli) have lower TFR.