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Geographical Patterns and Determinants of Maternal High-Risk Fertility Behavior in India

Pooja Singh, Banaras HIndu University
Kaushalendra Kumar singh, Professor

Maternal high-risk fertility behavior (HRFB) plays a critical role in influencing maternal, and child health outcomes and magnifies the risk of death of the mother and her child. The aim of this study is to understand the geographic patterns and socio-demographic determinants of HRFB among women of reproductive age. The analysis is based on responses from married women aged 15 to 49 years who gave birth in the preceding 5 years before the nationally representative National Family Health Survey (2015-16). The spatial variation of HRFB is examined using Moran’s I index and hot spot analysis (Getis-Ord Gi* statistic). Multilevel logistic regression model is fitted to identify the predictors of HRFB. The AOR (Adjusted Odds Ratio) with a 95% CI and p-value =0.05 is used to declare the potential determinants of HRFB. A substantial percentage of women are exposed to HRFB in India with a significant variation across geographic regions and socio-demographic groups of women. Statistically significant hot spots of HRFB are found in the central, eastern and north-eastern regions of the country. The study suggests implementation of targeted health interventions prioritizing hot spot areas and underprivileged subgroups of women to reduce HRFB.

Keywords: Demographic and social surveys, Fertility and childbirth, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Spatial analysis/regression

See extended abstract.

  Presented in Session P13.