Survival analysis of duration of waiting time to conception

Abstract

The length of waiting time to conception may be considered as the determinant of fertility. However, there is only limited empirical research investigating this subject in modern Indian societies.  So, this study aims at analyzing the differentials and determinants of duration of waiting time to conception of women in Manipur, applying the survival analysis technique.  In this study, a house-to-house survey of 1225 currently married women having at least one live birth is carried out through cluster sampling in Manipur, India.  Among the eight explanatory variables of interest, only four variables–  use of contraceptive devices has highly significant effect (P<0.01) on the duration of waiting time to conception and only four factors – age at marriage , parity, sex of child and infant mortality are found to be significant (P<0.05) on the duration variable.