Analysis of the Determinants of Marriage to First Birth Interval in Bangladesh

In this study an attempt has been made to examine the marriage to first birth interval and also to identify the socio-economic, demographic and cultural factors influencing the first birth interval among married women in Bangladesh. For this purpose the present study utilized the Bangladesh Demographic and health survey (Bdhs, 2004). Birth interval is major determinant of the rates of fertility. The average marriage to first birth interval of the respondent’s is observed to be 33.49 months. Independents test of chi-square and proportional hazards model are used to study the effect of selected background characteristics on first birth interval in Bangladesh. Accepted religion of respondent’s all of the independent variable has strong association with first birth interval. Result from proportional hazards model reveal that respondent’s education, access to mass media, age at first marriage, and use of contraception has highly significant impact on first interval excluding Rajshahi and Khulna division. Husband’s education is partially significant over first birth interval and childhood place of residence has little bit connotation on first birth interval.