The extent to which couples agree with each other on fertility intentions, sex of the next child, and the intention to use family planning in future has a major role not only in determining family size but also in the process of fertility transition. The present paper investigates this question in Uttar Pradesh, India. Quantitative data from the District Level Household Survey conducted in 2002-2004 has been used in the present analysis. Our analysis indicates that more wives than husbands do not desire an additional child. Further, more wives than husbands desire their next child to be a male child. Results show that the husbands have significant influence on the couples’ reproductive goals. It can be concluded that understanding husbands’ views are essential from the policies and programmes’ point of view.
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References
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DaVanzo, Julie, Peterson, Christine E. and Jones, Nathan R.2003. How well do desired fertility measures for wives and husbands predict subsequent fertility? Evidence from Malaysia. Asia Pacific Population Journal, 18 (4), 5–24.
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Dunn, Graham and Everitt Brian. 1995. Clinical Biostatistics, London: Edward Arnold.
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Dyson, Tim. 2004. India's Population-The Future, In Tim Dyson, Robert Cassen, and Leela Visaria (eds.), Twenty-First Century India: Population, Economy, Human Development, and the Environment, New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
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Ezeh, A.C.1993. The influence of spouses over each other's contraceptive attitudes in Ghana, Studies in Family Planning, 24 (3), 163–174.
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Gordon, Gill. 1995. Incorporating a gender perspective into sexual health promotion, AIDS/STD Health Promotion Exchange, 3, 11–13.
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International Institute for Population Sciences. District Level Household Survey 2002-2003 under Reproductive and Child Health Project. Mumbai, India.
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Jejeebhoy, Shireen and Kulkarni, Sumati. 1989. Reproductive motivation: A comparison of wives and husbands in Maharashtra, India, Studies in Family Planning, 20 (5), 264–272.
34.
Joesoef, M. R, Baughman, A. L. and Utomo, B.1988. Husband's approval of contraceptive use in metropolitan Indonesia: Programme implications, Studies in Family Planning, 19 (2), 162–168.
35.
Koenig, M. A. and Foo, Gillian H. C.1992. Patriarchy, women's status, and reproductive behaviour in rural north India, Demography India, 21 (2), 145–166.
36.
Koenig, M.A., Simmons, G. B. and Mishra, B. D.1984. Husband-wife inconsistencies in contraceptive use responses, Population Studies, 38 (2), 281–298.
37.
Lasee, Ashraf and Becker, Stan. 1997. Husband-wife communication about family planning and contraceptive use in Kenya, International Family Planning Perspectives, 23 (1), 15–20.
38.
Mason, K. O. and Smith, Herbert L.2000. Husband's versus wife's fertility goals and use of contraception: the influence of gender context in five Asian countries, Demography, 37 (3), 299–311.
39.
Mason, K. 0. and Taj, Anju Malhotra. 1987. Differences between women's and men's reproductive goals in developing countries, Population and Development Review, 13 (4), 611–638.
40.
Mbizvo, M. T. and Bassett, M. T.1996. Reproductive health and AIDS prevention in Sub-Saharan Africa: The case for increased male participation, Health Policy and Planning, 11 (1), 84–92.
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Mbizvo, M. T. and Adamchak, D. 1.1991. Family planning knowledge, attitudes and practices of men in Zimbabwe, Studies in Family Planning, 22 (1), 31–38.
42.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 2000. National Population Policy 2000, New Delhi: Government of India.
43.
Registrar General of India. 1993. Sample Registration System 1990, New Delhi: Office of the Registrar General of India.
44.
Registrar General of India. 1996. Population Projections for India and the States: Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections, New Delhi: Office of the Registrar General of India.
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Registrar General of India. 2002. Sample Registration System Statistical Report 1999, New Delhi: Office of the Registrar General of India.
46.
Retherford, R.D. and Choe, Minja Kim. 1993. Statistical Models for Causal Analysis, New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
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Roy, T. K., Ram, Faujdar Nangia, Parveen Shah, Uma and Khan, Nizamuddin. 2003. Can women's child bearing and contraceptive intentions predict contraceptive demand? Findings from longitudinal study in central India. International Family Planning Perspectives, 29 (1), 25–31.
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Visaria, Léela and Visaria, Pravin. 2003. ‘Long-term population projections for major states, 1991-2101,’ Economic and Political Weekly, XXXVIII (45), 4763–4775.
