| SPOUSAL AGREEMENT ON PREFERRED WAITING TIME TO NEXT BIRTH IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA |
| Authors: |
Gebreselassie T, Mishra V. |
| Source: |
Journal of Biosocial Science, 2011 Mar 30:1-16. [Epub ahead of print] |
| Topic(s): |
Family planning
|
| Country: |
Africa
Multiple African Countries
|
| Published: |
MAR 2011 |
| Abstract: |
Summary: This study investigates how various social, demographic and economic
factors affect spousal agreement on preferred waiting time to next birth. Data
for matched cohabiting couples from ten Demographic and Health Surveys in
sub-Saharan Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe), conducted between 2003 and 2006, were analysed
to compare reported waiting time to next birth by the husband and the wife.
Couples where the reported waiting time to next birth was the same for both
partners (difference is 0 months) were defined as having agreement on waiting
time to next birth. In sub-Saharan Africa, spousal agreement on waiting time to
next birth was found to be associated with wanting the next child sooner. When
the spouses disagree on waiting time to next birth, the wives want to wait longer
than their husbands in most cases. Additionally, the study found that demographic
factors are the primary determinants of spousal agreement on waiting time to next
birth, not socioeconomic factors. The strongest predictors of spousal agreement
on waiting time to next birth were number of living children, difference between
the number of ideal and living children and wife's age. Couples with fewer
children, a younger wife and those with a difference of five or more children
between ideal and living number of children were more likely to agree on waiting
time to next birth. Effects of socioeconomic factors, such as education and
wealth status, on spousal agreement on waiting time to next birth were generally
weak and inconsistent. The findings highlight some of the challenges in
developing programmes to promote spousal communication and birth spacing and
underscore the need for programmes to be gender-sensitive. |
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