Fertility and family planning among Jenu Kuruba and Kadu Kuruba tribes of Karnataka.

Abstract

Fertility is higher among the Kadu Kuruba tribe than the Jenu Kuruba tribe. Women who married at the age of 12 years have higher fertility than the women who married at the age of 16 years. The differences between two tribes in terms of fertility levels in age group are large. The practice of induced abortions or spontaneous ones are common among them. Most of the women who terminate pregnancy either before or after marriage, use only indigenous medicines. Among the Jenu Kuruba tribe more women are using indigenous medicines for preventing pregnancies, while among the Kadu Kurubas more women are using modern methods of contraceptives. The women who are using indigenous medicines to prevent pregnancies have lower fertility.