Poverty and Use of Contraceptive Methods

Abstract

The search for explanations for the high rate of fertility in India has led many to theorize the link between poverty and fertility. Several micro-studies have affirmed the hypothesis of positive association between poverty and fertility. Whereas this positive association has seldom been disputed, contraceptive practice in relation to poverty has rarely been ascertained through a comprehensive micro-empirical test. This paper reports the prevalence of contraceptive practice among women of poor and rich households with the objective of examining the influence of poverty on the use of contraceptive methods, and relating it to socio-demographic variables affecting family planning acceptance.