Determinants of high-risk childbearing and high-risk pregnancy in Bangladesh

A high level of maternal, infant and neonatal mortality occurs in Bangladesh. Certain childbearing practices predispose Bangladeshi women more vulnerable to adverse reproductive health outcomes which result in maternal and newborn mortality. Also, women in Bangladesh remain considerably subordinate to men in almost all aspects of their lives. Women’s subordination in family and society thus led to a lack of educational and working opportunities, as well as healthcare utilization, which also affect poor health outcomes for them as well as their children. This chapter aims to examine the reproductive health status of Bangladeshi women by addressing their childbearing practices and pregnancy health status. Using nationwide retrospective data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHS), this chapter identifies the determinants of high-risk childbearing practices and high-risk pregnancies in the light of women’s socio-economic attributes. The results reveal that in Bangladesh, about 56% of women experienced high-risk childbearing either in terms of maternal age or parity or birth intervals, and about 39% of women experienced different health complications during pregnancy which turned into high-risk pregnancies. High-risk childbearing practices, particularly adolescent childbearing and short birth intervals, as well as lack of utilization of antenatal care, were found to have a strong effect with high-risk pregnancies. Also, high-risk childbearing practices have significant enhancing effects, while antenatal care has significant inhibiting effects of pregnancy health. Women’s educational attainment and place of residence were found to be a strong positive effect in enhancing their reproductive health status.