Child-spacing practices and knowledge in Jordan : a summary report of the results of the HEALTHCOM evaluation baseline survey -- August-September 1988

The sample consisted of 930 women 35 years old and under who had a child under 2 years old at the time of the survey. The last birth interval was less than 2 years in 57% of the sample; the average interval was 24 months, and the median interval 22 months. Women aged 25 or younger were significantly more likely to have a shorter last birth interval. These findings indicate that the women in the sample wanted a relatively large number of children, but also suggest that many would be open to the idea of spacing or even completely avoiding more births; 42% of the women said they wanted no more children than those they already had or the child they were currently carrying. The desire for more children was related to parity. A large majority (79% to 84%) of women with only one or two children said they wanted more children. Approximately 60% of women with three or four children said they wanted more, and 36% to 44% of women with five to seven children said they wanted still more. Overall, there seemed to be a high level of positive attitude toward a space of at least 2 years between births. When asked their opinion about the appropriate difference in age between children, approximately 21% of the mothers answered less than 2 years, 40% said 2 years exactly, and 38% said more than 2 years. A large proportion of the women in the sample potentially would be interested in information about child spacing; 34% wanted to wait 2 or more years before having another child and 43% said they didn"t want any more children at all. Many women had used specific methods to attempt to space their children. Forty percent of all women (and 48.8% of women currently not pregnant) claimed to be using something to space pregnancies at the time of the survey, while another 16% said they had tried something in the past. However, 43% of all women had no experience at all with any method of spacing (modern or traditional). Twenty-nine percent of all mothers reported using modern contraceptive methods (IUD, pill, condom, spermicide) and 11% were using methods such as abstinence, withdrawal, and rhythm. Of women at risk of becoming pregnant (those not pregnant at the time of the interview), 35% reported that they were using a modern contraceptive method. The data indicate a need in Jordan for child-spacing information and services. Among mothers who said they wanted no more children or no children for 2 or more years (and who were not currently pregnant), only half reported that they were currently using a method to space children, and only 37% were using a modern method. Fear of side effects was significantly related to nonuse of modern contraceptives. Also, husband"s approval of child spacing was significantly related to use of any child- spacing method and to use of a modern method. Lack of knowledge about where to go for child spacing information or services was not a likely explanation for low use of contraceptives. Only 7% of the women said they didn"t know where to go for information on child spacing and 6% said they didn"t know where to go for child spacing services. The most frequently named source of information or services was a private doctor. This suggests an important role for doctors in child spacing efforts in Jordan. In sum, survey results indicate that there is a role for child spacing services and information in Jordan. Mothers in the survey generally had a positive attitude toward child spacing. The majority wanted to space their children 2 or more years apart or wanted no more children. However, less than half the women who said they wanted to space or stop births were doing anything to try to space their children. Two constraints to turning women"s positive attitudes toward child spacing into child spacing behavior may be fear of side effects from use of available contraceptives and lack of husband"s approval for child spacing. (Author abstract)