Impact of Family Size on Health and Well-being : A study of Some Selected Areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

The study examines the impact of family size on family health and well-being. The dependent variable of the study was health and well-being, the independent variable was family size. The survey, case study, observation methods were used to conduct this research work. The sample size of the study were 400 eligible couples (200 from small and 200 from large families). The data were collected fron1 12 _ villages of Gazipur and Dhaka district began October 2000 and finished November 2001. The study reveals that the small family can ensure better health and well-being than that of large family in tenns of better ability to meet basic family needs, more investment on children, more accumulation of wealth. The findings of the study and observation at the field level as well other study . review reflect fertility behaviour among fertile couples regarding expectation and satisfaction about offspring with popular emphasis on son dominate family size norm. · Thus, the sex behaviour and family as a social institution is intercepting both at micro (family) and macro level (national) life style. The over all analysis of the study and review of literature are imperative that the family planning and welfare services should have more intensified as a policy measure for ensuring, health and well-being at family level with focus on rural area to establish small frunily as norm in Bangladesh.