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

ABSTRACT

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.

ABSTRACT

PIP The hypothesis of this study is that the effect of sex preference on fertility is dependent on the level of contraceptive use, and the relative importance given to sex composition and family preference in determining contraceptive use. The effect of sex composition under different contraceptive prevalence conditions is examined by comparing in the Matlab intervention area 2 different periods 1977-82 and low contraceptive use, and 1984-88 and higher use. The study area comprised 149 villages and a total population of 187,523. This research used data on 2111 women in the 1977 survey and 3140 women in the 1984 survey. Survey data were linked with the Matlab demographic surveillance system. The results showed that between 1977 and 1984 there was an increase in the percentage of women desiring no more children, a decline in family size preference, and an increase in contraceptive use. Contraceptive use was 20% for modern methods in 1977 and 38% in 1984. The general finding was that the higher the number of sons at any family size level, the higher the percentage of women desiring no more children. The effect of sex preference on the percentage of women desiring no more children did not change between 1977 and 1984 (9.5% during 1978-82 and 19.5% during 1984-88); what did change was the percentage of women desiring no more children, from 39.0% to 54.7%. Change would have occurred is there had been no sex preference; expected changes would have decreased the desire for no more children from 14.6% in 1977 to 16.4% in 1984. Without sex preference, contraceptive use would also have declined from an increased prevalence in 1977 of 20.4% and 9.9% in 1984. the sex preference effect measure (SPEM) of Arnold (1985) was used and modified to quantify the effect of sex preference on fertility preferences and behavior. Fertility was consistently and negatively related to the number of living children. Without sex preference, fertility would have decreased 9.5% during 1978-82 and 10.5% during 1984-88. Family size preference had increased in its importance in determining contraceptive use. The effect of sex composition on subsequent fertility remained constant between the 2 periods.