"This paper investigates the effect of female education on fertility in Bangladesh...through three proximate determinants of fertility: marriage, postpartum non-susceptibility to conception, and contraception.... The analysis found that a small amount of education tends to increase fertility.... The effect of education on proximate determinants shows that it is positive for postpartum non-susceptibility to conception, [while] in contrast it is negative for marriage and contraception. Therefore, [the] contribution of the duration of postpartum non-susceptibility is stronger for less educated women, while marriage and contraception have important effects when education is high at the individual level."
"This paper reveals some interesting characteristics regarding the nature of sex differential in neonatal, post neonatal and infant mortality [in Bangladesh]. The association between sex of an infant and mortality appears to be highly significant for neonatal and post-neonatal stages but these associations are not very heterogeneous over time.... The association appears to be nonsignificant for infant mortality but the association in male and female infant mortality is found to be heterogeneous over time." Data cover the period 1966-1981.
In Bangladesh, rural women are served in the family planning program and the maternal and child health program by Family Welfare Assistants (FWAs). In Expanded Program Immunization (EPI) areas, FWAs mobilize and immunize children under 1 year of age. This study examined the extent to which family planning activities were affected adversely by FWA participation in EPI programs and the extent of benefits derived from EPI efforts. Data were collected in 1988 from service providers and 5760 eligible couples in EPI areas and 2880 from non-EPI areas as controls. There were 288 service providers: 32 upazila family planning officers, 64 family planning assistants, and 192 FWAs, a sample of whom were also observed during a workday. Clients were demographically similar. The average number of couples served in EPI areas was about 900 and in non-EPI areas 979. There were 345 active contraceptive users in EPI areas and 323 in non-EPI areas. There were 28.3% of couples reporting discussion with FWAs in EPI areas and 31.9% in non-EPI areas. 25.2% in EPI areas and 11.9% in non-EPI areas reported advice was given about child vaccination. During the last visit, about 25% of couples reported that FWAs did not discuss anything. Knowledge about at least 1 method of family planning was high in both areas (99.5% in EPI and 97.7% in non-EPI areas). Ever use of family planning was 45.3% in EPI areas and 44.2% in non-EPI areas. Correct knowledge of use in general was low in both areas. Correct knowledge of pill use was 41.9% in EPI and 30.1 in non-EPI areas; for condom use it was 46.8% in EPI areas and 39.2% in non-EPI areas. 33.1% in EPI and 29.7% in non-EPI areas were current users; 29.4% and 26.9%, respectively, were pill users. Knowledge of any vaccine was very high in EPI areas (95.5%) compared with 69.6% in non-EPI areas. Knowledge of vaccine use was extremely poor in non-EPI areas. Although knowledge of maternal tetanus (TT) vaccine was high in both areas, only about 25% received TT. The FWAs were the most important source of information on vaccines. The majority of FWAs think that EPI work has enhanced their status in the community and that is important to promote immunization. Distinct work patterns of FWAs for immunization were identified. There was slightly higher support for FWAs in EPI areas. Continued involvement of FWAs in EPI was recommended.
"This paper provides some estimates of fertility level for different periods from 1974 and 1981 census data [for Bangladesh]. The fertility levels were estimated using some indirect methods of estimation. The birth rate during the 70's decade was observed to fall in the range of 45-48 per thousand.... During the last intercensal period no significant change was observed between the measures of fertility."
"The present study was undertaken to identify the levels and age patterns of mortality in one rural area of Bangladesh. Some of the most recently developed nontraditional methods were applied to the...data set for obtaining estimates of infant and child mortality and adult mortality. The validity of estimates was assessed by making a comparison with a few indicators of mortality available from various sources. Although the basic data from local studies might have been deficient, the application of nontraditional methods to such information on mortality could still provide consistent and plausible estimates both at regional and national levels." Data are from a survey conducted in 1986.
