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Proximate determinants of fertility in the Kathmandu valley, Nepal: an anthropological case study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

J.L. Ross ,
J. Blangero ,
M. C. Goldstein  and
S. Schuler
J.L. Ross
Affiliation:
Division of Medical Genetics, Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA Department of Anthropology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
J. Blangero
Affiliation:
Division of Medical Genetics, Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA Department of Anthropology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
M. C. Goldstein
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
S. Schuler
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Summary

This article employs the analytical model of Bongaarts and Potter to compare the proximate determinants of fertility among three populations in Nepal's Kathmandu valley with the following characteristics: (1) high and low caste, (2) urban and urban fringe residence, and (3) users and non-users of contraception. It is shown that while Nepal, as a whole, is firmly entrenched in Phase 1 of the fertility transition, each of the populations studied has begun to experience a demographic transition to different degrees. In fact, greater progress in controlling fertility has been made than previously known.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , April 1986 , pp. 179 - 196
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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