バングラデシュの農村における出生力(<特集>バングラデシュの農業と農村)

Abstract

Two sets of data were obtained on Bangladesh villages : a genealogical table of inhabitants of one village, Gobarchitra; and survey data on two villages, Gobarchitra and Panchkitta, obtained by using questionnaires. By analyzing these data, we examined the high fertility of the two villages. First, we used the genealogical data on Gobarchitra. Using a patrilineal table, we tested the reproductivity of the male population. Over five generations, we checked four pairs of father-son generations. By several estimation methods, we obtained several values. Second, we used survey data on the two villages. Questionnaires asked all the married females about their birth histories. Compared with nation-wide data, two villages showed comparatively high fertility. There was a difference in fertility between the two villages, which appeared to result from a difference in mean age at first marriage. No other factors were identified. From cohort analysis, we concluded that those two villages had traditionally different levels of mean age at first marriage. As for the government's family planning program, neither village showed much effect. Generally, there is a high relation between the diffusion of a family planning program and education. Unfortunately, we could not examine this as we had no data on education.