Comparative Study of the Predictors of Socio Economic Status between Manipuri and Khasia Ethnic Communities in North Eastern Region of Bangladesh

Abstract

The objective of the study is to find out the predictors of the socio-economic status of the ethnic community (Manipuri and Khasia) in Bangladesh. The study analyzed a total of 113 (82 Manipuri & 31 Khasia) respondents from Manipuri and Khasia community purposively selected from Sylhet district. The information was recorded in a pre-structured questionnaire. Socio-economic status of the Manipuri and Khasia community was identified using self-developed Socio-Economic Index. A binary logistic regression model was fitted to determine the influencing factors responsible for the socio economic status of both communities. Family type, age at first marriage, and contraceptive use were the predictors of Socio-Economic Status for Manipuri community and income & contraceptive use were the predictors of Socio-Economic Status for Khasia community. In Khasia community, this research highlighted that those who had higher income and used contraceptive were having good socio-economic condition. On a different, joint family maintaining good        socio-economic status than single family in the Manipuri Community. The Manipuri women who were married at late age or over than 18 years age and used contraceptive for family control were maintaining good socio-economic condition. Among all the responsible factors, contraceptive use was found to be highly significant predictors regulating the socio-economic status of both communities. Finally this study suggested that government can take a strong initiative for the provision of contraceptive use to improve socio-economic status of both communities.