Effects of 1974-75 famine on demographic variables in rural Bangladesh

Abstract

This study investigates the demographic effect of the 1974-75 famine in a rural population of Bangladesh. Socio-economic data of 1974, registration data on births, deaths, and migration for the period 1974-77, from ICDDR,B have been used. The analyses are based principally on age-specific fertility and mortality rates, and life tables for cohorts born between July 1974 and June 1977. Five household variables indicate that the greatest famine-induced fertility decline occurred in the lower socio-economic groups. The post-famine recovery in 1976-77 was greatest for the lower socio-economic groups and less marked for the higher socio-economic groups. In 1974-75, the lower socio-economic groups were also most affected in terms of out-migration of males and marriage. Pregnancy wastage did not show any particular pattern. It was found that the poorer groups, as measured by possession of household items, suffered very high mortality during the famine compared with the wealthier groups. Most affected during the famine were the younger and older age groups. Cohorts born during the famine had a lower cumulative proportion surviving at different points of time than post-famine birth cohorts. During the famine there was a very high infant mortality for the lower socio-economic groups, but in normal times the socio-economic differentials almost disappeared. Similarly during famine infant mortality for females was higher than for males, but after the famine the pattern was reversed.