Does Gender Preference Affect Contraceptive Use Behavior In Northern Pakistan?

Abstract

The study portrays the influence of gender preference on contraceptive use behavior in Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of 613 married male respondents (15-49 years old) in five different bazaars were selected out of total fifteen bazaars through cluster sampling procedure. Both dependent (contraceptive use behavior) and independent (gender preference) variables were devised while using semantic and likert scales respectively. Dependent variable was indexed and gamma statistics was adopted for carrying out bi-variate and multi variate analysis. Majority of the respondents was found moderately consistent of contraceptive use behavior and had a clear concept of family planning. Most of the respondents belonged to joint family system; however, raising a girl was negatively and significantly (P<0.05) influenced by nuclear family system and illiterate respondents. Social and cultural raising of a girl was positively and significantly (p<0.05) influenced by literate respondents Certain recommendations like, equal status for daughters to avoid uncontrolled family size, redress of family system with respect to girls raising portraying a girl an economic asset in the form of paid job and convincing of all income group for discouragement of preferential gender treatments for policy implementations.

Gender & Behaviour Vol.3 2005: 281-295