TIMING OF CHILDBEARING IN ODISHA, INDIA

Fertility transition is in progress in India at varying levels and at different speeds across the states. Odisha is one of the undeveloped states of India in terms of socio-economic indicators have also shows transition in fertility. Using the data from Censuses, Sample Registration System and National Family Health Surveys, this paper examine the timing and nature of fertility transition in the state. Results show that there is a slow decline in fertility in the state till mid-80s and a faster decline after that. The decomposition analysis revealed that a fall in marital fertility has made a greater impact on fertility than age at marriage. An examination of Bongaarts proximate determinants of fertility in Odisha revealed that contraceptive prevalence plays a dominant role in fertility decline. It is seen that age at marriage has risen marginally though that is not reflected in a corresponding rise in age at first birth.