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How the number of living sons influences contraceptive use in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt.

Abstract：

:Couples in rural areas of many Arab societies, including Egypt, have consistently reported strong preferences for having sons. However, these reported preferences are not always reflected in reproductive behavior. In 38 rural villages in Menoufia Governorate in Egypt, women's responses to a community-based contraceptive distribution program were examined, taking into consideration both the number of living children and the number of living sons each women reported having. Controlling for number of living children, women with more sons were more likely to be using contraception before the distribution program began. Among women not using contraception before the program, those with more sons were more likely to initiate contraceptive use and were more likely to continue use for a nine-month period following the distribution. These findings imply that in addition to obstacles related to contraceptive availability, there are several cultural, social, and economic factors that influence fertility behavior and exert considerable pressure on married couples to have large families, including several sons. Unless the pressure exerted by these factors is changed or reduced, the impact of family planning programs is likely to reach a plateau at a relatively low prevalence level. :The rural population of Egypt expresses a strong preference for bearing sons because of their socioeconomic and cultural value. In fact, the more sons the better. Such thinking would seem certain to affect fertility rates. The researchers chose to study the relationship between son preference and contraceptive use in Menoufia Governorate. In 1977, the Social Research Center of the American University in Cairo conducted interviews with married women in Menoufia. Subjects were 22,799 women aged 15 to 44 living in 1 of 38 rural villages there. At the onset, it was believed that the women with the greatest number of sons would be the most willing participants in a family planning program. Contraceptives were made available through household based distribution. Following the interviews, these women were offered oral contraceptives free of charge. 9 months later, they were again interviewed and a definite pattern emerged; overall contraceptive use increased with the number of living children. Those with no sons showed the lowest user rates for their size groups while contraceptive use increased as did the number of sons per family.

journal_name

Stud Fam Plann

journal_title

Studies in family planning

authors

Gadalla S,McCarthy J,Campbell O

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

1985-05-01 00:00:00

pages

164-9

issue

eissn

0039-3665

issn

1728-4465

journal_volume

pub_type

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How the number of living sons influences contraceptive use in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt.