Presented by Jennifer Abrams Pamela Faber Jessica Fisher Bara Levitt Food vs. Books: Which Has a Greater Impact on Fertility Rates in Ethiopia and Bangladesh?

Basic Information ETHIOPIA Total Fertility Rate: 5.1 children born per woman Total Literacy Rate: 42.7% (32% of women) BANGLADESH Total Fertility Rate: 3.09 children born per woman Total Literacy Rate: 43.1% (31.8% of women) We compare these countries because both have steadily decreasing fertility rates. Further, we can compare them because each country faces a different "natural disaster" that affects food security. Finally, we compare these countries because both have made strides in the education of women.   By focusing on more than one country we make larger claims about the effects of food insecurity as induced by natural disasters, as well as education, on fertility rates.

Causes of Food Insecurity ETHIOPIA Dependent on rains during belg season (Feb-May) for crops & livestock Severe drought during El Niño, but not entirely predictable Food reserve consistency issues because of political turmoil – not refilled preemptively, only after seeing effects BANGLADESH Crop damage due to heavy flooding Poverty and the high cost of food The country is not yet self sufficient in cereal production

Effects of Food Insecurity ETHIOPIA Biggest effects are on growth and nutrition rates Clear relationship between food insecurity and stunted growth Worse for boys BANGLADESH Stunted growth and underweight babies Malnutrition due to limited food and nutritionally unbalanced food options Reliance on private interests and food aid

Policy & Initiatives ETHIOPIA BANGLADESH Education Sector Development Programs (ESDPs) Goals: 1. to expand education in rural areas 2. to promote female education 1998-2003, enrollment in grades 1-8 has increased by 11.3% BANGLADESH 1993 Food for Education (FFE)--free rice or wheat rations for families with children enrolled in primary school Female stipend programs

Family Planning Information BANGLADESH In 1990 31% of women aged 15-49 used contraceptives. By 2004 that number jumped to 59% for the same age range (World Bank, 2005). ETHIOPIA In April 1993, a national policy of fertility control was enacted by both the Ethiopian government and NGOs Women in urban areas are more than two times more likely than rural women to want to regulate fertility   Rural Lowland Rural Highland Urban Contraceptive Use ~2% ~2% 1990=12% 1997=25% Literacy 9.8% 4.2% 61.5% No Knowledge of Contraceptive Methods 38.8% 80.7% 8.5% Knowledge of 4+ Contraceptive Methods 10.4% 1.0% 58.7%

Conclusions Both Ethiopia and Bangladesh have experienced food insecurity as a result of climate issues and political instability. Both have had increased efforts to promote literacy and family planning. Finally, both have seen a decreasing fertility rate in the last number of years. Both have had increased efforts to promote literacy and family planning. Both have seen a decreasing fertility rate in the last number of years. Programs and family planning initiatives directly influence the decline in fertility rates.

Overall Conclusions Pattern of declining fertility rates can be explained through the empowerment of women and the access of those women to contraceptive knowledge and use. Although food security does not have a direct correlation to fertility rates, it does affect these societies through health, nutrition, and societal stability.