Post Graduate Student Population Research Unit

The main purpose o f this article is to determine the effect o f infant mortality on fertility decline with a comparative review o f the decline in infant mortality and fertility in Bangladesh. The possible relation and interaction between infant mortality decline and fertility decline are described, based mainly on the Bangladesh Fertility Survey (BFS) 1989. In addition, information from other sources will be utilized to assess consistency and to arrive at reasonable conclusions concerning the levels and trends o f fertility and infant mortality and also the increasing contraceptive prevalence rate. Fertility and infant mortality have declined considerably between 1975 and 1990. The decline is greater in urban areas than in rural areas. The use o f contraceptives increased steadily in Bangladesh between 1983 and 1991. Bangladesh is unique in having a rela tively high contraceptive prevalence rate in an environment o f low socioeconomic devel opment. The high level o f contraceptive use in Bangladesh has had an indirect effect on the decline o f infant mortality