The effect of fecundity on fertility in rural East Pakistan (Bangladesh)

To determine levels of fecundity--the biological capacity for reproduction-- in various population segments and the effect of the fecundity levels on fertility rates 30155 ever-married women in the Matlab thana area of East Pakistan were interviewed on fecundity in early 1968 as part of a cholera eradication program. Fecundity was defined as some current or recent state of pregnancy or regular menstruation for at least 6 months. This is an admittedly rough definition with one of the problems involved among others being that only female fecundity is studied without regard for infertility in the husband. Fertility statistics were taken from official public health records. 70% of the sample were found to be fecund and as expected fecundity shows an inverse relationship with age except in the very young woman. Women who were living with their husband and who had larger families showed higher fecundity rates than others. Subfecundity was found to reduce the total fertility rate by approximately 0.8 births per woman especially in women at the extremes of the age spectrum where their contribution to total fertility is lowest. The major impact of subfecundity upon fertility was found to occur in the larger family sizes. Estimations of family size based on fecundity and female mortality rates are concluded to be more realistic than the total fertility rate.