MP's birth rate decline is slower than expected

Bhopal, Dec 20 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh's population policy is likely to take more than two decades to attain its target due to a slow decline in the birth rate over the past seven years.

An analysis of the statistics provided in the Third National Family Health Survey 2005-06 revealed that the birth rate was 3.1 while it was 3.4 in 1998-99. The policy, announced in 2000, set a target of 2.1 by 2010.

As per the chief indicators of an April-August survey, the average birth rate declined by about 9 per cent over the past seven years. The rate would have to reduce by at least 30 per cent if the target is to be attained.

The Survey pointed out that despite positive steps towards a rise in the age of marriage, increase in the mean age at which the first child was born and in the rate of contraceptives' use, birth rate did not decline in accordance with the expectations.

Fifty-three per cent of respondents in the 20-24 age-group said that they were married at about age 18. In 1998-99, the percentage was in the region of 65. Naturally, these women became mothers at a comparatively later age and utilised contraceptives.

An interesting fact which came to light was that approximately 82 per cent of mothers with two live offspring did not desire more children. In the previous survey this percentage was 60. A decline was registered even in cases where both kids were girls.

''Besides a comprehensive review of family planning-related programmes, strict monitoring and effective steps for qualitative improvement are imperative. About 12 per cent couples do not want more children but contraceptives are not available to them,'' said United Nations Population Fund's Madhya Pradesh Programme Coordinator Dayakrishna Mangal.

UNI GB-AC 1553