Fertilty variation in Andhra Pradesh : the role of mass media exposure

Abstract: The southern Indian state Andhra Pradesh has today among the lowest fertility rate among all the major Indian states (1,8 children per woman). In recent years some studies has point to the role of mass media exposure in lowering fertility in Andhra Pradesh. Questions have been raised, however, about the nature and interpretation of this evidence. This study attempts to address this issue by examining the determinants of fertility variation in Andhra Pradesh in a multivariate framework, using Sub-district-level data from census 2011. However, to provide a deeper understanding of how mass media may have shape people’s views and opinions about childbearing, a comparative case study has also been carried out. The study´s result shows that mass media exposure emerges as the most important factor explaining fertility variation in Andhra Pradesh. Moreover, poverty reduction, low child mortality, urbanisation and low levels of son preference also contribute to fertility variation. By contrast, general indicators of development such as female and male education bear no significant association with fertility variation in Andhra Pradesh.