PARENTAL PERCEPTIONS OF COSTS AND BENEFITS OF CHILDREN AS CORRELATES OF FERTILITY IN KUWAIT

Kuwait is a high fertility country where the average number of desired children still exceeds 5. However, fertility behaviour is beginning to show a noticeable change and the current TFR is about 4·2 children. In order to understand the decline in fertility, the impact of perceived benefits and cost...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biosocial science 2004-11, Vol.36 (6), p.663-682
Main Authors: SHAH, NASRA M., NATHANSON, CONSTANCE A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Children
Children & youth
Cost-benefit analysis
Cost-Benefit Analysis - economics
Cost-Benefit Analysis - trends
Cultural Diversity
Decision Making
Family Characteristics
Family planning
Family Size
Female
Fertility
General aspects
Humans
Kuwait
Male
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Mothers
Parents & parenting
Parents - psychology
Perceptions
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Regular Articles
Science and technology
Sociocultural Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
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Summary:Kuwait is a high fertility country where the average number of desired children still exceeds 5. However, fertility behaviour is beginning to show a noticeable change and the current TFR is about 4·2 children. In order to understand the decline in fertility, the impact of perceived benefits and costs of children on Kuwaiti women’s desired and achieved fertility is analysed. Data from a nationally representative survey of Kuwaiti households held in 1999 are used. Bivariate analyses show that the mean desired number of children is significantly higher among those who rank higher on the perceived value of children, and lower among those who are concerned about the cost of raising children. Achieved fertility (children ever born) shows a similar pattern. In the multivariate analysis, however, large family values emerge as the only significant predictor of (higher) desired as well as achieved fertility, net of the respondent’s demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. The sociocultural, economic and political contexts that shape the mother’s perceptions of the benefits and costs of children are analysed and it is concluded that the need for children as social and national capital is currently the most important driving force behind fertility desires and behaviour.
ISSN:0021-9320
1469-7599
DOI:10.1017/S0021932004006297