Factors influencing husband-wife discussions of family planning and the desired family size in Jordan
Petro Nustas, Wasileh
Dirasat. Medical and Biological Sciences 23(2): 113-127
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 1026-3772 Document Number: 514625
The objective of this study is to probe into the factors that account for husbands' involvement in spousal discussions of family planning issues and the desired family size they opt for. Data figures and statistics of this study are based on the 1990 Jordan Fertility and Family Health Survey (JFFHS). Some 6,462 women, married, or have been married, and were in their reproductive age, during the time when the study was conducted, were interviewed for the purpose of this study. Results of the descriptive analysis (utilizing a Chi-Square Test of Significance) and the Multivariate Analysis (utilizing Logistic Regression) reveal that 58.8% of the women in the sample do participate in spousal discussions on issues concerning family planning. Among the 41.2% who do not take part in such discussions, 46% were 30 years of age or over, 48% lived in a village vs. a city or a countryside, and 45% had a total number of five to nine children. The study also indicates that 57.6% of husbands, (as reported by their wives in the sample), agree with them on the number of children they want, while 32.2% desire more children and only 10.2% favour a lesser number of children. In addition to wife's and husband's age and place of residence, the final Logistic Regression Analysis confirms the level of education (secondary schooling or above) as an important factor in determining such discussions.