Fertility decline under absolute poverty. Paradoxical aspects of demographic change in Bangladesh
Adnan, S.
Economic and Political Weekly 33(22): 1337-1348
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-9976 Document Number: 522174
Several hypotheses are presented regarding the factors shaping fertility trends in Bangladesh. The specific problem addressed is that of explaining fertility decline under conditions of persisting absolute poverty. The analysis is set in the context of broader socioeconomic and demographic trends in Bangladesh during recent decades. It is evident that the complex dynamics of fertility decline cannot be simply deduced from rates of poverty incidence. In fact there does not appear to be any unique relationship between the incidence of poverty and the direction of fertility trends. Issues discussed are: trends in population size, fertility and poverty; socio-demographic shifts; differentiation and inequality; hypotheses regarding fertility decline (growth of literacy and school attendance amongst females; women's position and value of female children; changes in the role of the family as primary reproductive unit; and the disassociation between the reproductive unit and the productive unit). Decline in fertility did not occur until critical parameters were met in terms of land-man ratios, urban growth, production and family organization, women's position, literacy rates, health conditions and medical technology.