Fertility Rate decreasing in Jammu and Kashmir

“Sharp decline in fertility rate brings worry in Jammu and Kashmir since 2015 “ health study. In Jammu and Kashmir, the total fertility rate (TRF) is continuously falling. The drastic fall can be gauged by the fact that it has recorded a decline of 0.6 in the past 5  years, since the last  National Family Health Survey (NFSH) in 2015-2016. If the trend continues, experts fear, that the present TRF of 1.4 might fall further in the next 5 years.

It is further said that the fertility rate of women living in rural areas is more than that of women living in urban areas.

National Family Health survey further said that the total fertility rate in urban areas, at 1.2 children per woman and in rural areas, at 1.5 per woman is below the replacement level. Among births in the three years preceding the survey, 5 per cent were of birth order four or higher compared with 12 per cent.

They cite many reasons for the decrease in TRF like food adulteration, changing living patterns, late marriages and increased stress levels among men and women. One of the causes that recent studies indicate is a polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

“PCOS is one of the most common causes of infertility in women, while obese women have a higher incidence of menstrual dysfunction and anovulation. The risk of sun fecundity & infertility conception rates, miscarriage rates & pregnancy complications is increased in these women, as far as obesity in males is considered obese men were 11 per cent more likely to have a low sperm count and 39 per cent more likely to have low sperm in their eject & 81 per cent more likely to produce no sperm” report added.

Infertility is considered a curse in Kashmir, and the tab surrounding it makes the life of childless couples difficult especially for women, said Shabana (name changed) 42-year-old residing in Sher-e- Khass area of Srinagar who has been married for the past 10 years, she further said that apart from emotional trauma and the taunt of people that makes life more difficult and these taunts mostly come from extended family and neighbours rather than close kins.

As per the reports of NFS-5, the fertility rate among uneducated and women belonging to scheduled is more as compared to the fertility rate in educated and women and women belonging to non-scheduled groups.

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