Male attitudes toward family limitation in East Pakistan.

Abstract

A study of 195 married men aged 20 to 54 was conducted in East Pakistan in 1963 in order to determine attitudes both toward having more children and family limitation. The desire for more children showed the closest association with such factors as the number of children ever born the number of living children the number of living sons age and number of years married. Limited association was found with the demographic characteristics of income education and occupation. Attitudes toward birth control showed close association with education and occupation and limited association with number of living children and living sons. The 68 men who wanted no more children were considerably older had more children and more sons had been married longer and made more money than those who wanted more children. Although there was a stronger desire among the wealthier and better educated to have more children these factors could be explained by demographic differences. Of the 195 interviewed 143 favored birth control and 52 opposed it. The groups differed substantially in educational attainment occupational quality and income with the higher levels favoring birth control. Demographic variables were hardly a distinguishing feature. Among those opposed to birth control some were opposed for religious or superstitious reasons others simply because they wanted more children. Total ignorance about birth control methods seemed to be the greatest obstacle to its adoption. If the men could be provided with an easy and secret means of family limitation 73.3% expressed a willingness to try it.