Bangladesh 1993-1994 Demographic and Health ... - Measure DHS
Bangladesh 1993-1994 Demographic and Health ... - Measure DHS
Bangladesh 1993-1994 Demographic and Health ... - Measure DHS
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Fertility in <strong>Bangladesh</strong> is declining, yet the growth rate of the population is still high <strong>and</strong> itsconsequences have adverse effects on various development efforts. One significant consequence of highfertility <strong>and</strong> 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, <strong>Bangladesh</strong> had around 22 million married women in the reproductive ages; by the year2001, this number is projected to rise to 31 million (GB, <strong>1994</strong>:8). The government has set a goal of reachingreplacement level fertility by the year 2005 (GB, <strong>1994</strong>: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 <strong>Bangladesh</strong>may stabilize at 211 million by 2056. By the year 2010, <strong>Bangladesh</strong> 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 <strong>and</strong> child health, <strong>and</strong> other socioeconomicdevelopment programs.1.3 Population, Family Planning <strong>and</strong> Maternal <strong>and</strong> Child <strong>Health</strong> Policies <strong>and</strong> ProgramsFamily planning was introduced in the early 1950s through the voluntary efforts of social <strong>and</strong> 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 <strong>Bangladesh</strong>has 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 <strong>Bangladesh</strong> amplified "the necessity of immediate adoption of drastic steps toslow down the population growth" <strong>and</strong> reiterated that, "no civilized measure would be too drastic to keep thepopulation of <strong>Bangladesh</strong> on the smaller side of fifteen crore (i.e., 150 million) for sheer ecological viabilityof the nation" (GB, <strong>1994</strong>:7). Through three five-year plans, successive population programs contained newstrategies to streamline administrative structures <strong>and</strong> reformulate program goals <strong>and</strong> objectives.From mid-1972, the family planning program received virtually unanimous, high-level politicalsupport. All subsequent governments that have come into power in <strong>Bangladesh</strong> have identified populationcontrol as the top priority for govermnent action. This political commitment is crucial in underst<strong>and</strong>ing thefertility decline in <strong>Bangladesh</strong>. The national policy went through several phases of evolution in response toemerging needs <strong>and</strong> 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, <strong>and</strong> organizational <strong>and</strong> management arrangements were made for implementingthe programs. Population planning was seen as an integral part of the total development process, <strong>and</strong> wasincorporated into successive five-year plans. The population policy is formulated by the National PopulationCouncil (NPC), chaired by the Prime Minister <strong>and</strong> including about 350 members comprising eminentpersonalities from different walks of life.Development of Program Approach<strong>Bangladesh</strong> population policy <strong>and</strong> programs have evolved through a series of development phases<strong>and</strong> have undergone changes in terms of strategies, structure, contents, <strong>and</strong> goals. The five distinct <strong>and</strong> broadphases may be identified as: (a) private <strong>and</strong> 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 <strong>and</strong> child health (MCH)-supported multi-sectoral familyplanning programs (1975-80), <strong>and</strong> (e) functionally integrated health <strong>and</strong> family planning programs withemphasis on MCH, primary health care, <strong>and</strong> family planning as a package, since 1980. The latest approachhas been a shift towards launching a family planning social movement to raise <strong>and</strong> sustain awareness <strong>and</strong>interest in all segments of society about fertility reduction as a strategy for sustainable development.3