Early marriage major obstacle to fertility decline
Early child marriage and early child bearing are still major obstacles to fertility decline in the country, according to Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) report 2007.
Women on an average in the country have 2.7 children, while required target of total fertility rate (TFR) is 2.2. TFR is highest in Sylhet division (3.7) and lowest in Khulna (2.0), said the report which was launched at a city hotel yesterday.
The report also highlighted that huge shortage of manpower creates an obstacle to implementing all approaches for improving facility-based and medically assisted safe childbirth and overall family health.
Speakers at the function urged both government and non-government officials to take well-timed steps to find out ways and means for better programme implementation and identifying priority activities to address critical issues of overpopulation growth and improved primary health care.
Speaking as the chief guest, Health and Family Welfare Minister AFM Ruhul Haque said the BDHS report would really help design and improve future policies and programmes relating to health, population and nutrition.
“In order to ensure health facilities for every citizen of the country, our government would review and adjust the heath policy according to the demands of the time,” he said, adding that community clinics established during the Awami league Rule would be commissioned.
Assuring that the population policy will be updated and the birth control and reproductive health care be ensured, the minister said, “As I said at a programme yesterday that we are going to set up a heath system with telemedicine and internet facilities to succeed in building digital Bangladesh by 2021.”
The minister also sought cooperation from all addressing the striking disparities among the rich and the poor in seeking maternal health care, as the report showed only five percent of ultra-poor women gave birth with assistance of a medically trained provider compared to 51 percent of very wealthy women.
Speaking as the special guest, US Ambassador James F Moriarty said the US government's foreign assistance priorities for investing in people through basic services like health and education.
“The United States provides Bangladesh with $35 million a year for family planning and reproductive, maternal and child health. And our efforts have helped Bangladesh reduce infant deaths by two-thirds and increase contraceptive use seven-fold,” the envoy added.
Dr Ahmed Al-Sabir, director (research) of National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT) and its Director General KC Mondal were also present at the programme.
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