Learning About the Population Problem: Children's Attitudes Toward Family Planning in India

Abstract

This research seeks to measure children's awareness of and support for family planning in India, on the premise that they are indications of future fertility behavior. The survey was conducted in June-August 1975 in 6 districts of Andhra Pradesh State, including schools in cities, small towns and villages. The 863 respondents included Hindus and Muslims, various caste groups, 3 language groups, and students in the 6th to 12th classes. Children's awareness of family planning was operationalized through 2 questions: "Have you heard about family planning?" and "Which is better, a big family or a small family?". Results show that 70% had heard of family planning and that approval of family planning is extensive, with only 14% of the sample expressing a preference for large families. Awareness of family planning is clearly correlated in the expected direction with exposure to a modernizing environment, particularly education. Exposure to media and political involvement are also correlated with awareness. Support for family planning is most highly correlated with religion, with Muslim children less approving than Hindu. Party identification and political knowledge are both associated with higher approval. Education and the index of modernity are the only indicators of modernization that correlate with approval.