Fertility Preferences among Women in Meghalaya, India

Abstract

This paper investigates fertility preferences among women in Meghalaya, India, focusing on trends over time and determinants influencing decision-making. Using data from National Family Health Surveys conducted between 1992 and 2021, the study investigates the ideal number of children, the percentage of women who wish to stop having children, and the factors influencing this decision after having two or fewer children. The findings show that the ideal number of children has decreased over time, indicating a trend towards smaller family sizes. Furthermore, a sizeable proportion of women express a desire to stop having children, with education, media exposure, wealth index, and religion emerging as significant predictors. Women with higher education levels and more exposure to mass media are more likely to desire fewer children, emphasising the importance of education and information dissemination in influencing reproductive preferences. The findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions to promote reproductive health and increase access to family planning services, particularly among marginalised communities.