Determinants associated high-risk fertility behaviours among reproductive aged women in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background The high prevalence of maternal high-risk fertility behaviour (HRFB) has multiple negative consequences for both the mother and the child. However, very few studies to date have been done on this issue, thus, we set out to determine the factors that increase the risk of HRFB in Bangladeshi women of reproductive age 15-49 years. Methods The study utilised the latest Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2017-18 dataset. The Pearson's chi-square test was performed to determine the relationships between the outcome and the independent variables, while multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the potential determinants associated with HRFB. Results Overall 67.7% women had HRFB among them 45.6% were at single risk and 22.1% were at multiple high-risks. Women’s age (35-49 years: AOR=6.42 95% CI: 3.95-10.42 & 15-24 years: AOR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.03-1.38), practicing Islam (AOR=2.30, 95% CI: 1.18-7.58), having normal childbirth (AOR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.12-1.68), had more than three children (AOR=4.60, 95% CI: 4.14-6.15), unwanted pregnancy (AOR=9.98, 95% CI: 5.61-17.74) and not using birth control tools (AOR=1.33, 95% CI:1.14-1.55) were significantly associated with increasing risk of having HRFB. Alternatively, women and their partners’ higher education were associated with reducing HRFB. Conclusion A significant proportion of Bangladeshi women had high-risk fertility behaviour which is quite alarming. Therefore, the public health policy makers in Bangladesh should emphasis on this issue and design appropriate interventions to reduce the maternal HRFB.

Prevalence of Hrfb and Related Factors Among Mothers Attending Antenatal Care at Public Health Facilities in Doyogena District, Kembata Tembaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

“…In contrast to other studies that focused on DHS, the majority of the current study's primary data source was face-toface interviews conducted in a single town. When compared to Bangladesh, 67.7% of women had HRFB, of which 45.6% were at single-high risk and 22.1% were at multiple-high risk (20).In contrast to studies done in Ethiopia, which found that only 76% of women in childbearing age experienced high-risk fertility issues, Ethiopia's Somali and Afar regions both experienced HRFB, at 86.18% and 86.3%, respectively (12).This resulted from changes in sociodemographic traits, communities' increased desire for children, the low prevalence of contraceptive use, as well as variations in study design and data collection methods.…”

“…Women who were less knowledgeable about contraceptive methods were more likely to have HRFB than women who were more knowledgeable. When we compared the study carried out in Bangladesh, where HRFB was found to be more common (20). The current study, in contrast, only used data from one Ethiopian town.…”