Bangladesh 1993-1994 Demographic and Health ... - Measure DHS

Fertility in Bangladesh is declining, yet the growth rate of the population is still high and itsconsequences have adverse effects on various development efforts. One significant consequence of highfertility and the declining mortality trend is a built-in "population momentum," which will continue togenerate population increases well into the future, even in the face of rapid fertility decline.In 1992, Bangladesh had around 22 million married women in the reproductive ages; by the year2001, this number is projected to rise to 31 million (GB, 1994:8). The government has set a goal of reachingreplacement level fertility by the year 2005 (GB, 1994:6). Even if this occurs, the population will continueto grow for the next 40 to 60 years after 2005. One projection suggests that the population of Bangladeshmay stabilize at 211 million by 2056. By the year 2010, Bangladesh is likely to have a population of about150 million. The demographic goal is difficult but not impossible to achieve, in view of the trends alreadyestablished in the success of family planning, maternal and child health, and other socioeconomicdevelopment programs.1.3 Population, Family Planning and Maternal and Child Health Policies and ProgramsFamily planning was introduced in the early 1950s through the voluntary efforts of social and medicalworkers. The govemment, recognizing the urgency of moderating population growth, adopted familyplanning as a govemment sector program in 1965. The present family planning infrastructure of Bangladeshhas evolved in a process of development over the iast 35 years.The policy to reduce fertility rates has been repeatedly reaffirmed since liberation in 1971. The FirstFive-Year Plan (1973-78) of Bangladesh amplified "the necessity of immediate adoption of drastic steps toslow down the population growth" and reiterated that, "no civilized measure would be too drastic to keep thepopulation of Bangladesh on the smaller side of fifteen crore (i.e., 150 million) for sheer ecological viabilityof the nation" (GB, 1994:7). Through three five-year plans, successive population programs contained newstrategies to streamline administrative structures and reformulate program goals and objectives.From mid-1972, the family planning program received virtually unanimous, high-level politicalsupport. All subsequent governments that have come into power in Bangladesh have identified populationcontrol as the top priority for govermnent action. This political commitment is crucial in understanding thefertility decline in Bangladesh. The national policy went through several phases of evolution in response toemerging needs and circumstances. In 1976, accelerated growth of population was declared the country'snumber one problem; a population policy was outlined, operational strategies were worked out, specific fieldprograms were developed, and organizational and management arrangements were made for implementingthe programs. Population planning was seen as an integral part of the total development process, and wasincorporated into successive five-year plans. The population policy is formulated by the National PopulationCouncil (NPC), chaired by the Prime Minister and including about 350 members comprising eminentpersonalities from different walks of life.Development of Program ApproachBangladesh population policy and programs have evolved through a series of development phasesand have undergone changes in terms of strategies, structure, contents, and goals. The five distinct and broadphases may be identified as: (a) private and voluntary clinic-based programs (1953-60), (b) family planningservices through limited government health care facilities (1960-65), (c) large-scale field-based governmentfamily planning programs (1965-75), (d) maternal and child health (MCH)-supported multi-sectoral familyplanning programs (1975-80), and (e) functionally integrated health and family planning programs withemphasis on MCH, primary health care, and family planning as a package, since 1980. The latest approachhas been a shift towards launching a family planning social movement to raise and sustain awareness andinterest in all segments of society about fertility reduction as a strategy for sustainable development.3