Are Social Group Differentials in Fertility Narrowing with Rising Level of Living in Andhra Pradesh?

In spite of low fertility levels and higher contraceptive use in the state of Andhra Pradesh, differentials are still discernible between the caste groups. This paper examines whether the caste differentials in fertility and contraceptive use exist at each stage of socio-economic status, and whether these are of the same order and direction, using the Second National Family Health Survey data. Analyses of interaction effects of caste and other socioeconomic factors on fertility and contraceptive use show that the caste is not constant across the levels of socio-economic factors. Although the caste differentials are notable in rural areas, they are much narrower at the lower levels of socio-economic status. With the improvement of socio-economic status, not only will fertility decline with a corresponding increase in the use of contraception, but also the differences in fertility and contraceptive use between caste groups will disappear.