Factors Influencing Desired Family Size among Residents of Assela Town

Abstract

Background: Ethiopia, like most Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, is experiencing rapid population growth. The rapid growth prevents national development effort and affects maternal and child health. Different factors influence family size at different levels in different Societies. This Study assessed factors affecting family size preferences in Assela town where data was not available in this regard. Objective:To determine desired family size and identify factors influencing family size among residents of Assela town, Ethiopia.Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Assela town, between March 25 and April 4, 2013. A total of 428 residents were included in the study. The age of women ranged from 15 to 49 years and men above 15 years. The desired family size was determined using mean score. Respondents were asked to determine which factors were influential on their desired family size. Descriptive analysis, 95% CI and multiple linear regressions were used to see relationship between the independent variables and desired family size. After recoding the variables, logistic regression was used to see association between family size preference and predictor.Results: Mean desired family size for the study population was 3.8. The factors which had got higher magnitude and rank included household income and gender preference. In linear regression, statistically adjusting for the effects of socio-demographic variables, respondents who had primary education desired higher family size than respondents who had more than secondary education (B=2.04, 95% C1=1.33, 2.70) at P-value<0.01. Logistic regression shows, women who had good knowledge of fertility awareness method of contraception were found to be 1.7 times more likely to prefer small family size compared to women who had poor knowledge of fertility awareness method of contraception (AOR=1.71, 95% CI=1.08-2.72). Conclusion:It is quite possible that increasing educational level and age at marriage might influence couples to desire lower family size. Women prefer small family size than their husbands. Educational level and knowledge of family planning affected family size preferences. Special effort to inform uneducated couples about knowledge of family planning should be focused. Fertility and family planning policies should aware of gender differences in family size preference and consider counseling couples about family size. In addition to quantitative research qualitative methods should be used to identify other factors influencing family size. Significance of the StudyFactors affecting family size contribute to fertility rate. Rapid growth of population is obstacle to harmonize the rate of population growth with socio-economic development. Rapid growth is occurring in countries where the decline in total fertility rate is slow. The slow decline of total fertility rate may be because population has not reached their desired family size. The high and nearly stable desired family size is an obstacle to further fertility decline. However, li...

Editor’s Note: Journal of Women’s Health Care (Volume 5, Issue 6)

“…Progressive research has provided the opportunity to cost effective health check-up in every possible corner of the globe. 'Journal of Women Health Care' is among such journals which are devoted to gather information about women health, which could provide a better world for women [8][9][10].…”

Emergence of children as influencers in family consumption decisions – a resource theory approach

“…Few studies have also explored the influencing behavior of children in single-parent families and found children to exert higher influence in single-parent families than those from two-parent families (Anderson et al, 1989). Contrary to this, some researchers have also found that teenagers from single-parent families are not more likely to be more influential than their counterparts in two-parent families (Dibaba and Mitike, 2016;Chaudhary, 2015;Lachance et al, 2000). India is a country known for its cultural diversity.…”

“…Previous studies conceded the effect of family size (in terms of the number of siblings) on the influence exerted by children in family buying decisions. Some studies have found children's influence to increase in large families (Dibaba and Mitike, 2016;Ali et al, 2013;Jenkins, 1979), while others have found that children in large families perceived significantly less influence than children in small families (Page et al, 2017;Guneri et al, 2009), and some of the studies have found that the size of the family does not affect children's influence attempts (Akinyele, 2010). Smaller families when compared with large families can provide better education and more material wealth to their children and hence, more opportunities for a child to actively participate in family buying decisions, which may be Family consumption decisions easier if he/she is not competing with other children in the family (Johnson et al, 1994).…”

Factors Affecting Family Size: A Study on Narail District, Bangladesh

“…The less educated are discouraged or opposed to such use. Moreover, women who attained a secondary and higher level of education are found to be 2 and 2.6 times more likely to prefer a small family size compared to women who had no education (Dibaba & Mitike, 2016). Occupation is used to relate to the lucrative pursuits which the respondents implied to generate income.…”

“…This study is also directed only at two religious communities, which gives a more limited result. Besides, most of the works were accomplished by African researchers (Caldwell, 1980;OIOMU, 2000;Dibaba & Mitike, 2016).…”