Levels, trends and determinants of fecundability in Bangladesh: A comparative study using Bangladesh health and demographic survey (BDHS) data

The concept of fecundability derives its importance for the study of human fertility from the fact that it is one of the principal determinants of fertility and is a major standard by which the impact of fertility regulation can be assessed; very few attempts have been made in Bangladesh for estimating fecundability. This study attempts to evaluate the levels, patterns, and trends of fecundability and identify the factors affecting fecundability in Bangladesh based on national surveys of Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2007-1994. Total 9703 ever married women are included in the bivariate and multivariate analyses which reveal that age at first birth, age at marriage and marital duration play an important role in influencing marriage to first birth interval positively and thus fecundability negatively. Although fecundability in Bangladesh showed an increasing trend, but it is very low compared to developed and developing countries.