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

The data show that birth intervals are generally long in Bangladesh. Almost one-half (46 percent)of non-first births occur three or more years after the previous birth, while one-third take place 24-35 monthsafter the previous birth. Only one in five births occurs after an interval of less than 24 months. The medianbirth interval is 35 months. This is considerably longer than the median birth interval of 30 months reportedin the 1991 CPS (Mitra et al., 1993:37). Differences in the methods used to calculate the medians mayaccount for some of the difference in the two medians.Younger women have shorter birth intervals than older women. The median birth interval for womenage 15-19 is 26 months, compared to 38 months for women over age 40. A shorter median interval alsoprevails for children whose preceding sibling is dead, compared to those whose prior sibling is alive. Thispattern presumably reflects early resumption of sexual intercourse, a shortened breastfeeding period, andminimal use of contraceptives.3.7 Age at FirstBirthThe age at which childbearing begins has important demographic consequences for society as a wholeas well as for the health and welfare of mother and child. In many countries, postponement of first births,reflecting an increase in the age at marriage, has contributed greatly to overall fertility decline. Earlyinitiation into childbearing is generally a major determinant of large family size and rapid population growth,particularly in countries where family planning is not widely practiced. Moreover, bearing children at ayoung age involves substantial risks to the health of beth the mother and child. Early childbearing also tendsto restrict educational and economic opportunities for women.Table 3.12 presents the percent distribution of women by age at first birth according to current age)For women age 20 and over, the median age at first birth is presented in the last column of the table.Childbearing begins early in Bangladesh, with the large majority of women becoming mothers before theyreach the age of 20. The median age at first birth is around 18. Moreover, the data show that median age atfirst birth has increased slightly from around 17 for older women to around 18 for women in their 20s andearly 30s. This slight change to later age at first birth is reflected in the smaller proportion of younger womenwhose first births occurred before age 15; about 16 percent of women in their 40s report having had their firstbirth before age 15, compared to only 5 percent of women age 15-19.Table 3.12 Age at first birthPercent distribution of women 15-49 by age at first birth, according to current age, Bangladesh 1993-94WomenMedianwith Age at first birth Number age atno of firstCurrent age births