The gap between desired and achieved fertility in Kanchanaburi Demographic Surveillance System (KDSS), Thailand

Tran Quang Lam, Independent consultant

This study examines situation, characteristics and determinants of the gap between desired and achieved fertility among 15-49 married women in Kanchanaburi Demographic Surveillance System (KDSS), Thailand. The differences in fertility gaps firstly examined by some demographic and socio-economic characteristics using descriptive analysis. Then, multivariate analysis is applied to identify possible factors affecting the fertility gaps in KDSS for the total children and for boys and girls separately. The effects of independent variables are examined for two groups: the women having desired number of children less than the living one and those having desired number of children more than the living one and at different levels i.e. individual, household and village. Study findings suggest more individual and household impact on fertility gap than village factors. The impact is also different for boy and girl fertility gaps.