Title: Family planning among rural Moslem women in Israel.

POPLINE Document Number: 122987

Author(s):

Azaiza F

Source citation:

JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE FAMILY STUDIES, 1996 Autumn;27(3):559-68.

Abstract:

This study examines contraceptive usage and sources of information on family planning among a sample of 429 Arab Muslim women who had given birth and were living in villages in Galilee and central districts of Israel. Interviews were conducted during August 1988 to April 1989. Findings indicate that 34% of women did not use any form of contraception. 28% relied on traditional methods and 37% used modern methods. 45% of users relied on the IUD. The diaphragm was the least popular method. 91% had received information on family planning. 52.8% had received contraceptive information from a nurse at a family health care center and 50.0% had heard about contraception via the radio or television. 38.7% had discussed family planning with a doctor at a family health care center. 32.5% had talked with friends and 37.9% had read written materials about family planning. 26.4% had talked to a sister or sister-in-law; 14.3% had talked to a mother or mother-in-law. Only 1.7% had approached husbands as a source of information. 23% of nonusers had never used contraception and did not intend to use any in the future. The most important objections to contraceptive use included: examination by a male physician, insufficient knowledge, side effects, religious reasons, partner's objection to pregnancy prevention, and health. The levels of contraceptive use among rural Arab women was higher than among women in other Arab countries. The type of contraceptive method preferred varied among Arab countries. It was found that rural Arab women in Israel preferred the IUD because it was provided at the family health care centers at low cost.

Keywords:

Israel
Research Report
Family Planning Surveys
Family Planning
Attitude
Contraceptive Usage
Islam
Women
Middle East
Developed Countries
Psychological Factors
Behavior
Contraception
Religion
Demographic Factors
Population