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Education and Fertility in Bangladesh: Future Prospects and the Role of Family Planning Services

This study explores the relationship between education and fertility in Bangladesh, showing that more educated women desire smaller families and have achieved lower fertility rates through family planning services. The findings suggest that increasing education levels could help Bangladesh achieve replacement-level fertility.

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Education and Fertility in Bangladesh: Future Prospects and the Role of Family Planning Services

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  1. Education and Fertility in Bangladesh:Future Prospects and the Role ofFamily Planning Services Mizanur Rahman Pathfinder International Julie DaVanzo RAND Abdur Razzaque ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research November 2002

  2. Since Its 1971 Independence, Bangladesh Has Sought to Control Its Population Growth • With a small geographic area but a large population, Bangladesh has had a strong political commitment to limit its growth • Total fertility rates (TFRs) declined from more than 6 children per women in the early 1970s to less than 5 in the mid-1980s • The Bangladesh TFR declined to less than 3.5 children in the early 1990s, but has changed little since

  3. When is Bangladesh Likely to Reach Replacement-level Fertility? • Are there socioeconomic subgroups in Bangladesh that already have replacement-level fertility? • How does couples’ “wanted fertility” compare to the number of children that they are likely to have? • How does fertility in an area with better family planning services compare to that in an otherwise-similar area with standard government services?

  4. BDHS and Matlab DSS Provide Data on Education and Fertility • Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) has data on 10,544 women • BDHS data are representative of whole country • BDHS includes data on education as well as actual and wanted fertility • Matlab Demographic Surveillance System (DSS) includes data on region typical of rural Bangladesh • DSS includes data on education and fertility • DSS allows comparisons of otherwise similar areas that differ in accessibility and quality of family planning services

  5. Bangladeshi Women of Secondary or Higher Education Have Achieved Fertility Near Replacement Levels Number of births per woman (TFR) 4 3 2 1 0 None Incomplete Complete Secondary Primary Primary Education Source: BDHS 1997-2000

  6. Bangladeshi Women of All Educational Levels Desire Still Lower Fertility Rates Children per woman 5 Total wanted fertility rate Total fertility rate 4 3 2 1 0 None Primary Primary complete Secondary incomplete Education Source: BDHS 1999-2000

  7. Fertility Rates Have Declined in Both Areas But Are Lower in MCH-FP Area Number of births per woman (TFR) 8 Comparison 7 MCH-FP 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 Source: Matlab DSS, 1978-1999

  8. Women With Higher Education and Better Family Planning Services Have Fertility Near Replacement Levels Number of births per woman (TFR) Comparison 4 MCH-FP 3 2 1 0 None Primary Lower Secondary Upper Secondary Education Source: Matlab DSS, 1995-2000

  9. The Percent of Persons, Especially Women, With At Least Some Education Has Increased Percent with at least one year of school 100% Males 90% Females 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85-89 Year of birth Source: BDHS, 1999-2000

  10. Secondary Education for WomenHas Increased Greatly As Well Percent with 6+ years of school 60% Males 50% Females 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 Year of birth Source: BDHS, 1999-2000

  11. Socioeconomic Differences inEducation Are Decreasing . . . Women with at least one year of school, Matlab comparison area 100% Socioeconomic* position: 90% 80% High Middle 70% Low 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 Year of birth Source: Matlab DSS 1995-98 *defined by housing space

  12. . . . But Remain Large forSecondary Education Women with at least six years of school, Matlab comparison area 70% Socioeconomic* position: 60% High Middle 50% Low 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 Year of birth Source: Matlab DSS 1995-98 *defined by housing space

  13. Education and Fertility in Bangladesh Are Strongly Related • Education is increasing for Bangladeshi women • More educated women in Bangladesh desire smaller families • Such women have achieved lower fertility rates by taking advantage of family planning services • Increasing education levels could therefore help Bangladesh achieve replacement-level fertility

  14. Education and Family Planning Can Help Bangladeshi Women AchieveReplacement-Level Fertility • Across Bangladesh, women of secondary education (6+ yrs. schooling) have nearly achieved replacement-level fertility • In rural Bangladesh, higher educational levels (10+ years) and better family planning services are needed to reduce fertility to replacement level • Wanted fertility rates are below actual fertility rates for all women and at or below replacement level for all but uneducated women • Continued improvements in education and family planning will help Bangladesh achieve replacement-level fertility

  15. If Present Trends Persist, Bangladesh May Achieve Replacement-Level Fertility by 2025 • Nearly all women now entering reproductive age have at least some education; half have some secondary education • By 2025, nearly all women will have at least some secondary education • Diffusion of desires for small families to those of little or no education could hasten fertility transition • Other social and economic changes may also hasten transition

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