Malnutrition, fertility and family planning.

Data derived primarily from published reports is used to assess the relationship between malnutrition and reproductive capacity in India. Findings of numerous studies support the conclusion that improvements in nutritional status are associated with increased fertility in the absence of contraception. Nutritional programs should therefore be provided in conjunction with family planning services in order to avoid an increase in population growth. Improvements in the nutritional status of members of a community may help motivate the community toward family planning. A recent Indian study demonstrates that higher caloric intake is associated with smaller family size, and other studies reveal a relationship between malnutrition and pregnancy failure, stillbirth, and infant mortality. The high infant mortality rate in India at the present time may serve to increase family size since couples tend to over produce in order to insure that some of their children will survive. The hypothesis that an inadequate diet is compensated for by an increase in sexual appetite, and hence, in fertility is not substantiated by recent investigations. For example, Indian states with higher protein intake/person have higher birth rates than those states with lower protein intake/person. Tables provide data on 1) birth rates, death rates, infant mortality rates, % of population increase, and sex ratios for each decade from 1921-1970 for India; 2) the relationship between diet and birth rates in several countries; 3) the relationship between various dietary factors and birth, death, and infant mortality rates forIndia; 4) fertility rates observed in several populations where contraception was not practiced; and 5) the relationship between family size and diet in India.