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Effects of family sex composition on fertility preference and behaviour in rural Bangladesh

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

A. I. Chowdhury ,
Radheshyam Bairagi  and
Michael A. Koenig
A. I. Chowdhury
Affiliation:
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Radheshyam Bairagi
Affiliation:
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Michael A. Koenig
Affiliation:
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Summary

The effects of family sex composition on fertility preferences and behaviour during the period 1977–88 are examined using longitudinal data from Matlab, Bangladesh. The sex composition of living children was found to be systematically related to fertility preferences and behaviour, with a higher number of sons at each family size associated with a higher percentage of women wanting no more children, a higher percentage currently using contraception, and lower subsequent fertility. However, the highest percentage wanting no more children, using contraception and having lowest subsequent fertility was found among women who already had one daughter as well as at least one son. The effects of sex preference on fertility preferences and behaviour were measured using an index developed by Arnold (1985). The results suggest that while sex preference remained largely unchanged during the study period, its effect on contraceptive use declined and its impact on actual fertility remained modest and fairly stable.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 25 , Issue 4 , October 1993 , pp. 455 - 464
Copyright
Copyright © 1993, Cambridge University Press

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