CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL BACKGROUND:

Fertility is the important demographic components in the study of
population. The growth of population depends on human fertility.
Fertility is the actual reproductive performance of the women.
Fertility is a process responsible for biological replacement and the
maintenance of the society. In the point of view of population
dynamics, fertility is a positive force. On the other view, excessive
replacement of human number by fertility can also create many
social and political problems. The approach to the study of fertility
was mathematical orientated before the Second World War. The
main reason for this limited view point was that the discipline of
population studies was not developed at that time. The dynamic
character of fertility was realized when, after the Great Depression
of the early 1930s the birth rates in the north-west Europe and
North America (USA and Canada). A phenomenon, popularly known
as the (Baby Boom) all the population projection; based on the
assumption of declining birth rates, went haywire. Thought the
(Baby Boom) that fertility had to be studied in a broader perspective
with due importance given to social, economical, cultural as well as
political factors. The experiences of Romania also demonstrated that
fluctuations in the fertility rates of a country might take place
response to political, social and economic conditions. Fertility
studies in developing countries especially after 1960. In the
developing countries, fertility or birth rates have not declined but,
mortality has declined considerably. As a result, these countries are
facing the problem of rapid population growth. It was realized that
the population growth is a problem of developing and developed
countries.
In Nepalese society, fertility depends on social status of women.
It is also affects by socio- economic status, cultural practices,
demographic behavior, psychological and political factors within the
biological limits. Fertility also determine human ethnicity, place of
residence, migration status, climate, social structure, traditional
customs, values, norms, believes and cultural and population policy
of the nation.
The social status of women is considered by the education
of women, income, occupation, occupation of husband, age at
marriage, her knowledge, attitudes and practices of contraption and
decision making power about her own fertility.
The population of Nepal increase from 23151423 in 2001
to 26494504 in 2011. The annual population growth rate during
that period was 1.35% but, per-capita income of Nepal is grown by
3.2% only. Such high population growth rate indicates high level of
fertility in Nepal. However the total fertility rate (TFR) has declined
from 4.1 in 2001 to 2.7 in 2011. The causes of high rate of
population growth are high fertility rate and declining mortality
rate. The socio- economical factor is one of major causes of high in
Nepal. So, the socio- economic development has been considered the
fertility rate a society or a nation. The social status of women refers
to the living standard of women. It is considered to the overall
position of the women in the society. It is determined their
education, occupation, health condition, age at marriage, their
knowledge, attitude and practice of contraption and their decision
making power regarding the child born to them. So, the social status
of women is considered as major determinant of fertility. Fertility
and social status are different between developed and developing
countries. In developed countries, socio- economic and cultural
conditions are high but, population growth is low. In developing
countries, population growth rate is high and socio- economic and
cultural conditions are low. Nepal is a developing country and its
population growth rate is 1.35%. It is high population growth rate.
Total fertility rate has declined in the last decades from 4.1 in
2001 (CBS 2002) to 2.7 in 2011(CBS2012). The crude birth rate has
also declined in the decades from 30.5 in 2001(CBS2002) to 20 in
2011(NPR2011).
Fertility is the actual reproductive performance of individual
or groups. Human fertility refers the child bearing process of human
beings. Human fertility is responsible for biological replacement and
maintenance of human society. The cause of growth of the
population depends entirely on human fertility. It is determined by
the physiological, social, cultural, economic and modernization
factors. Fertility is the child bearing performance of women
normally of 15 to 49 years of age. Socio-economic and cultural
variables are employed to explain the prevailing level of fertility in
all societies.
Tamang is one of the backward ethnic groups in Nepal. They
are residing throughout the nation especially in hilly region (around
center part of Nepal).
However, Tamang living in Rapti municipality -8 of Chitwan
district are taken for the analysis of social status factors in
determining fertility.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

The socio-economic and demographic factors are the important
aspects of population study. People generally marry at an early age
in Nepalese society which leads to higher fertility. Child mortality
and infant mortality rate is higher then, encourage Nepalese women
to replace the child loss.
The population of Nepal has been increasing since 1998B.S. Some of
the main causes of rapid population growth are early marriage,
illiteracy, poverty, high fertility rates and decline in mortality rates.
The population of Nepal is 26494504 according to 2011B.S. census.
It is annual growth rates is 1.35 percentages (CBS, 2011). If the
current growth rate continues, it makes the problem more complex.
The land cultivable area of Terai is also being converted rapidly into
residential area because of high population growth.
Some of the main causes of encouraging fertility are poor economic
level, illiteracy, early marriage, poor status of women, economic
value of children, various social and prevent people from using the
means of family planning vital role in encouraging the fertility of the
people in a backward community such as Tamang, where most of
the people are illiterate and have low socio-economical status. So, it
is a most important need to find out the key socio-economic and
demographic factor that fight against the high fertility and ensure
development of the community. Although, good education is
provided, fertility is higher in this community.
Tamang community is one of the poorest ethnic groups of Nepal
with inner terai and hilly region and socially as well as economically
backward. So, the main task this study is to examine the relationship
between the socio-economic and demographic factor for the fertility
of Tamang community of Raptmunicipality-8, Chitwan.
Thus this study clarifies these problems.
(i) What are the socio economic and demographic characters
of Tamang community in the area?
(ii) What are the socio economic and demographic
characteristics of currently married women of Tamang
community in the studied area?
(iii) What are the socio economic and demographic impacts on
fertility of Tamang community in the studied area?

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

The key objective of this study is to examine the status of
women and their impacts on their fertility in the rural area of
Rapti Municipality. Some of the specific objectives of the study
are given below:
(i) To identify socio economical and demographic
character of Tamang community.
(ii) To examine socio-economic and demographic character
of currently married women in Tamang community.
(iii) To identify socio-economic and demographic impact on
fertility of Tamang community.
(iv) To identify social status impact on fertility in Tamang
community.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The most important work of this is to locate out the main socio-
economic and demographic aspects of fertility prevailing in Rapti
municipality. It is surely the good understanding of fertility
regulation behaviors with the aim to control the fertility which can
improve the status of socio- economic conditions.
Tamang is an ethnic group which only covers small part of
the total population of about 5.81% according to census 2011. Only
less analysis are made in Tamang community till now. So it is
suitable for study. Due to the lack of study and research on Tamang
community, people are not well known about them. So, the nation is
not able to give proper services and to lunch development project
for the benefit of Tamang community. This research can help to fill
up the gap between statuses of Tamang with national status. The
significance of this study can be given as follow:
(i) There is less research on this community before it.
(ii) Its study can help in the policy making process and
planning, which is important for the socio-economic
study of Tamang community in Rapti municipality-8,
Chitwan.
(iii) It could be useful for the future researchers and helps the
local citizen to develop the awareness about their socio-
economic and demographic status.

1.4 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study is based on women of Rapti Municipality-8, Chitwan

district. So it may be representative of similar Municipality of Nepal
only. It is limited women of reproductive ages (15-49) takes into
account only currently married women including few selected
demographic and socio-economic variables under the constraint of
limited time and resources.