Covariates of Third Birth Intensities for Family Formation in Bangladesh: An Application of Discrete Time Hazard Model

Bangladeshi women prefer to have at least two children norm and who proceed to higher order births mainly constitute a selected group. In this context, this study finds out the summary measures of the third birth intensities by selected socioeconomic characteristics by using Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2007 data. Quantum and tempo dimension of fertility has been observed by Kaplan-Meier birth function. The discrete failure time hazard model has been applied to birth interval data. The result shows that two-thirds of the two children mothers have had a third birth within 5 years of their second birth. The cumulative proportions of women having third birth systematically decrease with increasing age at second birth. The majority of women who have given third birth are apparently the lowest educated women in Bangladesh. The sex preference has a higher influence on progression in the transition to third birth. A woman who is son-less with two female children, the risk of having a third birth is higher than that of women with two sons. Previous child death experiences have impact on third birth intensities. The propensity to give a third birth is 1.2 times higher among Muslim women than their non-Muslim counterparts.