IDEAL FAMILY SIZE IN BIHAR: A MICRO REGIONAL ANALYSIS OF MUNGER AND KISHANGANJ DISTRICT

The objectives of this paper are to know the size of ideal number of children in Bihar by different background characteristics. The paper further analyse the preference of specific sex combination of children in the context of socio-economic, demographic and cultural scenario/milieu. Finally, the study finds out the factors that play determining role in selection of ideal number of children. The study hypothesis that Socio-cultural (caste and religion) and standard of living play important role in shaping ideal family size in married couple. Women empowerment and autonomy play retarding role in large ideal family size reference. Women having more number of living children have more preference for large ideal family size.