It includes a cadre of 24,000 women, often covered from head to toe in traditional Islamic robes, who penetrate the innermost sanctums of rural homes with supplies of contraceptives and advice about health. But although such efforts have provided essential access to contraception, they are working because Bangladeshis have also decided to have fewer children. In 1975, when asked how many children she wanted, a typical woman would reply four. Today she would say two. Now she is confident that it is up to her.
Demographers agree that the fertility transition is ultimately caused by a drop in mortality.
Once a couple realizes that their children are likely to survive, they can give birth to fewer infants and still be sure of being cared for in their old age. Another oft-cited trigger for the transition is microcredit, an idea pioneered by Bangladeshi economist Muhammed Yunus. Monitoring by peers replaces collateral, leading to a repayment rate of more than 90 percent. Currently three million Bangladeshis, mostly women, have access to such credit, which they use to set up small ventures. Although the programs have clearly been beneficial, their impact on fertility is hard to decipher.