Reproductive Profile in the Light of Socio-economic Background in a Progressive Rural Community near Assiut City, Upper Egypt

Abdel-Aty, Mahmoud A.; Al-Hussaini, Tarek K.; Labeeb, Shukria A.

doi:10.21608/jhiph.2000.298994

Reproductive Profile in the Light of Socio-economic Background in a Progressive Rural Community near Assiut City, Upper Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Public Health & Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt

² Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt

³ Community Health Nursing, High Institute of Nursing, Assiut University, Egypt

10.21608/jhiph.2000.298994

Abstract

A cross-section community based study was designed to study 616 currently married women of reproductive age in a relatively rapid developing village [Elwan village], Assiut District, Assiut Governorate. Systematic random sample was conducted using a pre-designed questionnaire to study the reproductive behaviors among different socio-economic status and factors, which may affect contraceptive use. Another aim was to compare the family planning [FP] use and socio-economic indicators with a previous study conducted in the same village in 1991 by Labeeb, 1994. According to Fahmy and El Sherbini scoring [1983]: 63%, 29.5% and 7.5% belonged to low, middle and high SES respectively. FP knowledge was very high [99%], also the current use rate (50.9%] and ever users [62%] were high. The mean numbers of pregnancies and living children were [5.28 ± 2.85] and [4.02 ± 2.16] and four FP methods were known on the average. Wives started FP use at later age and after they had completed their families particularly among low SES. The mean ages at marriage were 17.06 for low SES, 17.92 for middle SES and 19.35 for high SES [P<0.0001]. The current FP users were 58.3%, 41.9% and 32.6% for gradient SES respectively. The high SES wives started FP use at an early age with small number of living children and mainly for spacing. IUDs [71.3%] and pills [19.7%] were the most commonly used methods and most of wives knew pills, IUDs and injectable spontaneously. Mass media [95.3%] and relatives [54.1% ] were the main sources of knowledge. By using Multiple Regression Model, age of starting FP use, number of living children, duration of marriage and FP knowledge were the significant predictors of FP ever uses. By comparing the current study with the previous study conducted by Labeeb [1994], the economic development [sanitation and electric appliance] was much more than social development as education. The FP use increased from 29.4% to 50.9% [98.3% increases]. Therefore, socioeconomic improvements were found to have significant effects on reproductive profile.

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