Significance of beliefs and values in predicting fertility and contraceptive behaviour in Pakistan

A comparative study of 1100 women aged 25–45 years, users and non-users of modern methods of contraception, in the urban centres of Lahore and Faisalabad was conducted in 1991. The objective of the study was to investigate reproductive behaviour and the extent to which social, cultural and attitudin...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biosocial science 1995-07, Vol.27 (3), p.301-318
Main Authors: Zafar, M. I., Ford, N., Ankomah, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anthropology. Demography
Beliefs
Biological and medical sciences
Contraception
Contraception Behavior
Culture
Family
Female
Fertility
Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology
Humans
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Morality
Pakistan
Population
Social Values
Socioeconomic Factors
Tropical medicine
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A comparative study of 1100 women aged 25–45 years, users and non-users of modern methods of contraception, in the urban centres of Lahore and Faisalabad was conducted in 1991. The objective of the study was to investigate reproductive behaviour and the extent to which social, cultural and attitudinal variables, such as beliefs and values about family life, religiosity and fatalism, influence the fertility decision-making process. Preferences for smaller families were found to be consistently associated with modern attitudes and behaviour towards family and religious values and obligations. Family income, husband's occupation and religiosity offered no explanation of reproductive behaviour. It is concluded that cultural setting and tradition exert an important influence on reproductive behaviour, independent of economic development.
ISSN:0021-9320
1469-7599
DOI:10.1017/S0021932000022823