Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2004 released

After an almost decade-long stagnation, fertility in Bangladesh declined to 3.0 children per woman in 2004. A trend towards increasing utilization of health services for mothers and children is also asserting itself, while awareness of HIV/AIDS among ever-married women almost doubled to 60 per cent in 2004 (from 31 per cent in 2000).

These are among the interesting findings of the recently released Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2004, prepared by the National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Dhaka; Mitra and Associates; and ORC Macro, Calverton, Maryland United States of America.
A nationally representative survey, the BDHS is designed to provide policy-makers and programme managers in health and family planning with detailed information on fertility and family planning, childhood mortality, maternal and child health, nutritional status of children and mothers, and awareness of HIV/AIDS.
Previously, BDHS surveys were carried out in 1993-1994, 1996-1997, and 1999-2000.
“The findings of the 2004 BDHS presented in this report provide up-to-date and reliable information on a number of key health and demographic topics of interest to planners, policy makers, programme managers and researchers, that will guide the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Heath, Nutrition and Population Sector Programme in Bangladesh”, Mr. A.F.M. Sarwar Kamal, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh explained in a foreword.