Identifying Potential Factors of Childbearing in Bangladesh

Md Asaduzzaman,Md Hasinur Rahaman Khan

doi:10.5539/ass.v5n3p147

Md Asaduzzaman, Md Hasinur Rahaman Khan

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v5n3p147

Copy DOI

Abstract

This paper aims to identify different potential factors associated with childbearing pattern among the ever-married women in Bangladesh. Childbearing pattern is directly related to fertility level and rapid population growth is the major consequence of more childbearing. Bearing more children affects adversely on social and economic opportunities and produces substantial risks to the health of mothers and children. Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey data 1999-2000 and 2004 have been used for this study. First bi-variate analysis method is carried out to identify different factors associated with childbearing. Then generalized linear modelling approach has been performed to quantify the simultaneous effect of key socio-economic and demographic factors. Our primary findings show that childbearing varied tremendously by education level and age at first marriage. From the generalized linear model analysis, mother's age group, types of place of residence, division, media exposure are found to be significantly associated with bearing more children among the ever-married women in Bangladesh. These findings suggest that government should continue its effort to ensure higher education for females and to promote to delay age at marriage.

Highlights

It still requires understanding the nature and trend of the determinants of fertility to keep the rate low
Most of these studies have been used only bi-variate analysis to identify the related factors of fertility and relatively very little is know about the trend and potential factors related to childbearing
The mean number of children to women in each five-year age group, which is considered as an indicator of the momentum of childbearing, shows that women in their late twenties have given birth to almost two children and in late thirties, they have about four children

Summary

Introduction

It still requires understanding the nature and trend of the determinants of fertility to keep the rate low. In terms of determining the factors of fertility in Bangladesh a number of studies has been performed (Rob, 1990; Islam and Islam, 1993; Islam et al, 1998). Some studies have been performed to examine the factors related to desire for more childbearing in Bangladesh (Asaduzzaman and Ullah, 2003). Most of these studies have been used only bi-variate analysis to identify the related factors of fertility and relatively very little is know about the trend and potential factors related to childbearing. A total of 341 primary sampling units were selected for the BDHS 1999-2000 survey where 99 in urban areas and 242 in rural areas. In BDHS 2004 survey, a total of 361 PSUs, 122 in the urban area and 239 in the rural area has been selected. 10,544 of ever-married women are successfully interviewed in 1999-2000 survey and 11,440 were in 2004

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion