Assessment Of Family Size Preference And Associated Factors Among Married Couples: Acase Study Of Ginjo- Guduru Kebele, Jimma Town

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May, 2009, to assess the family size preference and associated factors in Ginjo-Guduru kebele, Jimma town. Data was collected using a questionnaire addressed to couples. A total of 99 Couple respondents participated in the study, systematic sampling method was method was employed for sampling and 1st household was selected randomly and the other selected with fixed interval. Analysis of the study result revealed that the average number of living children for couples were 3.8. The desire to have more children for husbands and wives on average were 2.2 and 2, respectively; this show that there is high degree of correlation between the couples desire. While the average desired family size were 5.7 for husbands and 5.4 for wives. The primary reason of desire more children was reported to be to get help at old age. The association between family size preference and religious difference and income variation were less significant, in other ways literacy level and economic activities were the most prominent factors. Of reproductive age group only 39.4% were using family planning method. The reason for not using contraceptive were primary to have more children. Finally, increasing awareness on the contraceptive usage, motivating couples to have fewer children, increasing adult education in school to significant level and a need to do comprehensive studies to identify areas of resistance to family planning are strongly recommended.