Marriage to first birth interval is important incidence in the life of women with
increasing responsibilities. First birth interval not only affects the length of rest of
birth intervals but also has effect on reproductive pattern of women. Cox
Proportional Hazard model is used for identification of significant factors
contributing towards marriage to first birth interval in Pakistan. Covariates used
for analysis of first birth interval are: age of women at the birth of first child, age
at marriage, ideal number of children (fertility intention), ideal number of boys
(son preference), region (Punjab, Sindh, KPK, Baluchistan), education of both
spouses, wealth index and occupation of both spouses. Women’s age at the birth
of first child, women’s age at marriage, education (illiterate) and wealth index
(poorer) contribute significantly to first birth interval. Age of women at marriage
and age of women at the birth of first child has played vital role in its
determination. Modernization factors have not affected negatively the length of
first birth interval. Due to family pressures couples start planning the child soon
after marriage irrespective of their education, work status and wealth index. There
is need of effective family planning policies to increase the length of first birth
interval along with delayed marriages to get a significant control over rapid
population growth.