Determinants of Unintended Birth and Its Effect on under-Five Mortality in Bangladesh

Nurun Nesa Kani, United Hospital
Anika Akter, Jagannath University
M Sheikh Giash Uddin, Jagannath University

This paper aimed to identify the determinants of unintended birth in Bangladesh. The paper also examine the effect of unplanned birth on child survival. The study used data from multiple round Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys from 2007 to 2022. The study was restricted to those children who had complete birth history information, and also had complete information on planning status of birth. To examine the net effect of each independent variable on the dependent variable after controlling for the effect of other predictors is also measured via multivariate analysis (Hierarchical logistic regression analysis). The bivariate analysis was performed by applying an independent chi-square test. It was found that about 80% birth was wanted and 20% birth was not wanted. The results showed that the under-five mortality had lower if the birth was wanted than if it was unwanted, which suggested a positive association between unwanted birth and under-five death. The multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the effect of birth planning on under-five mortality. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that children who were reported as unwanted birth were significantly more likely to die before their fifth birth day compared with those who were reported as wanted.

Keywords: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Health and Morbidity

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