Abstract:
Present study aimed to explore the effects of proximate determinants on slow paced fertility
transition in Pakistan from 1990 to 2013. Regional fertility disparities among Provinces, using three
data sets of Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys (1990-91, 2006-07 and 2012-13) have been
analysed. Bongaarts (1978) model is used to estimate the effects of marriage, contraception, induced
abortion; postpartum infecundability and primary sterility on fertility transitions. The findings exhibit
that postpartum infecundability is the strongest and powerful inhibitory factor of fertility followed by
marriage pattern. Contraception and induced abortion remained less contributing factors in
controlling Total Fertility Rate in early 1990s but afterwards, increased involvement are being
observed steadily; while primary sterility stayed behind the least contributing factor in declining
fertility. In conclusion, this study suggests that in prevailing traditional, socio-cultural and orthodoxy
society; open consultation regarding reproductive health and contraceptive practice should be
encouraged through mass media campaign. Moreover; couples should also be encouraged for
sterilization after achieving desired family size for controlling the mammoth population in Pakistan |
