Inter-relationships between consanguinity, religion and fertility in Karnataka, South India

Bittles, A.H., Devi, A.R.R., Rao, N.A., Landers, John and Reynolds, Vernon (1990) Inter-relationships between consanguinity, religion and fertility in Karnataka, South India. In: Landers, J. and Reynolds, V., (eds.) Fertility and Resources. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, pp. 62-75.

Abstract

When considering factors which act as major influences on fertility, religion and consanguinity may feature prominently, especially among the populations of less developed nations. Unfortunately, in many such studies it has been the practice either to assess the effects of religion and consanguinity separately, or to ignore consanguinity altogether. For the investigation of possible inter-relationships between the three parameters South India provides an excellent study centre. In the four southern states, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with a combined population in the 1981 Census of India of 164.1 millions, consanguineous marriages are strongly favoured and three major religions, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity, are practised. Therefore detailed studies into the relative roles and effects of religion and consanguinity on fertility are possible at local, state and regional levels.

Item Type:	Book Chapter
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Copyright:	1990 Cambridge University Press
Notes:	Society for the Study of Human Biology Symposium Series: No. 31
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/13190

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