EDUCATION LEVEL AND FERTILITY RATE OF RURAL COMMUNITIES IN PASIR MAS DISTRICT, KELANTAN, MALAYSIA

Abstract

Fertility is one of the principal components of population that can affect a country’s planning and development process. Since the 1960s, Malaysia has experienced a declining trend in the population fertility rate. In 2017, Malaysia’s population fertility rate registered a value below the natural rate of replacement level. Nevertheless, there is a significant spatial distribution in total fertility especially in the urban and rural areas. This study investigates the impact of education level on population fertility and analyses the spatial distribution of a particular measure of population fertility in 50 townships of the Pasir Mas district, Kelantan. A cross sectional random survey was conducted to determine the education level and fertility rate of the Pasir Mas communities. The Geographical Information System is used to manage the spatial distribution in population fertility. Analysis of the data using Chi Square Test at 0.05 significant level revealed that education level significantly affecting age at first marriage, age at first birth, and number of children. Further analysis on spatial distribution in population fertility rates using LISA found that community fertility in each township was relatively similar. The studied area, which is categorized as rural, showed high fertility rate. The results emphasize the importance of community level education in developing and implementing the Malaysia population policy.