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  • Title: Exploring the relationship between women's work and fertility: the Bangladesh context.
    Author: Mahmud S.
    Journal: Bangladesh Dev Stud; 1988 Dec; 16(4):99-113. PubMed ID: 12342714.
    Abstract:
    In Bangladesh, research is being done on the relationship between women's work and fertility. It is believed that one of the leading factors in the high fertility of women in Bangladesh is their total dependence on men for economic support. This is further evidenced by women's low status in society, home, and in areas of health care, nutrition, education, employment, leisure, etc. A survey revealed that when women did work outside the home, they had on average 3 children, versus 4 children for women that never worked. This has not been true in all societies, as documented in Western industrialized countries. Factors that may affect these trends include the availability of child care, the need of children for support in times of crisis, and sickness or death of the household head. A negative relationship between employment and fertility was more prevalent in wife-dominant and egalitarian couples than male-dominated ones. Other factors such as the number of some, marriage duration, education, and family makeup could effect the desire for additional children more than the work status of the wife. Among illiterate women of Bangladesh, the use of birth control was 50% higher for those who worked before marriage and continued than for those who worked at some time. Working women have access to more sources of knowledge and communication with other women, that may effect their attitudes on delayed marriage and marriage disruption. In addition access to public health facilities and other commercial market places makes them less dependent on male family members.
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