Abstract
This article reports the results of the first household survey ever conducted in Jordan Badia to include questions on knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) among 15–49 currently married women in Jordan Badia toward family planning. The Jordan Badia is the eastern part of Jordan populated by Bedouins who make up about 7 to 9 percent of the 4.8 million total population of Jordan. Using convenience sampling procedure, a total of 450 respondents, 50 from each of nine villages, were selected for participation. The mean age of the study population was 30.9 years and the women's age at marriage ranged from 13 to 35 years, with a mean age at first marriage of 16.8 years. More than 37 percent of the women were illiterate. Over 91 percent of the women know about family planning, but proportions of ever-users or currently-users of contraception are found to be 35.7 percent and 31.7 percent respectively. The social support network, including the husbands, mothers, and mothers-in-law, was explored. Husbands' support for family planning was significantly higher (p < 0.001, Chi Square test, df = 2) than the support of both the mothers and mothers-in-law. In view of the limited data-based literature in the area of family planning, findings of this survey can assist in the formulation of culturally appropriate population policy and viable family planning programs for this Bedouin community. Based on the results of this KAP survey, appropriate recommendations aiming at increasing the demand for family planning services among women in Jordan Badia are provided.
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