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  • Title: The communalisation of population growth.
    Author: Rao M.
    Journal: Health Millions; 1993 Feb; 1(1):22-4. PubMed ID: 12286353.
    Abstract:
    It is politically dangerous to attribute birth rates to religion. Some propaganda proposes the following myths: that Hindus have only 1 wife and Muslims many; that Islam forbids family planning and Hinduism does not; that Muslims have a higher birth rate; and that there will be more Muslims in India soon. Statistical evidence is supplied to refute these claims. In fact, the rate of polygynous marriage is 5.80% among Hindus and 5.73% among Muslims, which means Muslims have a lower incidence. Islam "fatwas" allow temporary methods of contraception, but forbids abortions and sterilizations. Contraceptive use in Muslim countries such as Turkey, Egypt, and Indonesia is generally high. Fertility when cross-classified by religion and urban and rural residence or by monthly expenditures per capita shows that religion is not the significant variable. Socioeconomic factors do affect fertility, but there is a mix of socioeconomic groups among both Hindus and Muslims. Indian population growth projections indicate that Hindus will outnumber Muslims. Fertility decline has been significant in both urban and rural Muslim communities. A comparison of the Malabar region of Kerala and Uttar Pradesh shows Malabar with a 40% Muslim population and a lower birth rate than Uttar Pradesh with a 15% Muslim population. The conclusion is that the evidence does not support the myths; religion is not a primary determining factor.
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