Disentangling the effects of reproductive behaviours and fertility preferences on child growth in India
Disentangling the effects of reproductive behaviours and fertility preferences on child growth in India
We analysed population data from the 2015–16 National Family Health Survey to disentangle the intricate underlying effects of reproductive behaviours and fertility preferences on child growth. We expected birth interval length to be more strongly associated with stunting than sibsize and these effects to be moderated by whether the child was wanted or unintended (mistimed/unwanted). Regression analyses showed strong and equal effects of short birth interval and sibsize on stunting, when adjusted for potential confounders and unobserved between-mother heterogeneity. There were no statistical associations between stunting and mistiming/unwantedness of index children, suggesting the absence of discrimination against such children. We conclude that while fertility preferences have no effect, reproductive behaviours exert significant influence on child growth. Sibsize has been falling for many years in India but birth interval lengths have remained largely unchanged. The results underscore the need for strengthening uptake of reversible contraceptives to enable longer birth intervals.
Child growth, Fertility preference, India, National Family Health Survey, Preceding birth interval, Reproductive behaviour, Sibsize, Stunting, Unintended pregnancy, Unwanted
1
Rana, Md Juel
75f9a3a2-039a-4c5b-842f-d890ed87fdc6
Cleland, John
f664cbd9-347a-4b93-af50-a21118c5f5bd
Sekher, T.V.
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Padmadas, Sabu S.
64b6ab89-152b-48a3-838b-e9167964b508
Rana, Md Juel
75f9a3a2-039a-4c5b-842f-d890ed87fdc6
Cleland, John
f664cbd9-347a-4b93-af50-a21118c5f5bd
Sekher, T.V.
cd31d6af-08e5-4456-9253-8770e43d7c38
Padmadas, Sabu S.
64b6ab89-152b-48a3-838b-e9167964b508
Rana, Md Juel, Cleland, John, Sekher, T.V. and Padmadas, Sabu S.
(2020)
Disentangling the effects of reproductive behaviours and fertility preferences on child growth in India.
Population Studies, .
(doi:10.1080/00324728.2020.1826564).
Abstract
We analysed population data from the 2015–16 National Family Health Survey to disentangle the intricate underlying effects of reproductive behaviours and fertility preferences on child growth. We expected birth interval length to be more strongly associated with stunting than sibsize and these effects to be moderated by whether the child was wanted or unintended (mistimed/unwanted). Regression analyses showed strong and equal effects of short birth interval and sibsize on stunting, when adjusted for potential confounders and unobserved between-mother heterogeneity. There were no statistical associations between stunting and mistiming/unwantedness of index children, suggesting the absence of discrimination against such children. We conclude that while fertility preferences have no effect, reproductive behaviours exert significant influence on child growth. Sibsize has been falling for many years in India but birth interval lengths have remained largely unchanged. The results underscore the need for strengthening uptake of reversible contraceptives to enable longer birth intervals.
Text
Manuscript Juel et al_final
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 12 August 2020
e-pub ahead of print date: 22 October 2020
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
3 This work was undertaken with support from the Population Council through its project entitled ‘Policy Research and Advocacy for Strategic Investment in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in India’, supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (Grant no. 16-109245-000-POP). The data used in this study are available in the public domain.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Population Investigation Committee.
Keywords:
Child growth, Fertility preference, India, National Family Health Survey, Preceding birth interval, Reproductive behaviour, Sibsize, Stunting, Unintended pregnancy, Unwanted
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 443436
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/443436
ISSN: 0032-4728
PURE UUID: e18e30d6-27fa-4b11-8f18-a9650383670c
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Date deposited: 25 Aug 2020 16:32
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 05:49
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Author:
Md Juel Rana
Author:
John Cleland
Author:
T.V. Sekher
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