Trend of determinants of birth interval dynamics in Bangladesh.
The distribution of birth intervals can be used to draw attention to important characteristics of dynamics of fertility process. The main objective of this paper is to examine the effects of socioeconomic, demographic and proximate determinants on the length of birth intervals of women of Bangladesh and also to see whether the effects are changed over the years.



Birth intervals can be considered as correlated time-to-event data because two or more birth intervals could correspond to a single mother. Moreover, women from the same neighborhood usually share certain unobserved characteristics, which may also lead to correlated time-to-event data (birth interval). A parametric random effect (frailty) model is used to analyze correlated birth interval data obtained from three Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHS 2004, 2007, and 2011).



The results show that alongside different socioeconomic, demographic determinants, unobserved community and mother effects have considerable impact on birth interval in Bangladesh. However, the effects of different factors on birth interval changes in a small scale over the duration of 2004-2011.



Efficient policy is a priority for promoting longer birth spacing and achieving a decline in fertility.
Institute of Statistical Research and Training (ISRT), University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh. jkhan@isrt.ac.bd.
Jahidur Rahman
JR
Khan
Department of Statistics, Biostatistics & Informatics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
Wasimul
W
Bari
Institute of Statistical Research and Training (ISRT), University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.|Center for Clinical Epidemiology, St. Luke's International University, 3-6-2 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan.
A H M Mahbub
AH
Latif
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh; D001721:Birth Intervals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001723:Birth Rate / Q000639:trends*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011247:Pregnancy; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult
Correlated time-to-event data; Demographic health survey; Fertility; Survival model