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Effect of Famine on Fertility in a, Rural Area of Bangladesh

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Abdur Razzaque
Abdur Razzaque
Affiliation:
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Summary

This study investigates the effects of the 1974–75 famine on differential fertility in a rural population of Bangladesh, using information on household socioeconomic status collected in the 1974 census, and registration data on births, deaths and migrations for the period 1974–77 from the Demographic Surveillance System of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. Occupation of household head was taken as a measure of socioeconomic status. Total fertility rates were analysed for three periods: pre-famine, famine and post-famine. Overall fertility declined due to the famine by 34%, but this was compensated partially by a 17% increase in the post-famine period. Fertility of women of all ages and socioeconomic groups was affected by the famine, a more pronounced effect being observed among the poor. Fertility showed a higher post-famine recovery among women in the middle socioeconomic groups and in those aged 25–34 years.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , July 1988 , pp. 287 - 294
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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