Does women's literacy affect desired fertility and contraceptive use in rural–urban Pakistan?

1993 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalida P. Zaki ◽  
Nan E. Johnson

SummaryThe 1984–85 Pakistan Contraceptive Prevalence Survey showed that urban wives had more than twice the literacy rate of rural wives. The present study explored the relationship of the rural–urban gap in female literacy to differences in contraceptive use. In rural areas, literacy did not increase women's perceptions of having reached a ‘sufficient’ number of living children, although the opposite was true for urban areas. Yet rural women with an ‘insufficient’ number of living children were more likely to use contraception if they were literate, as did their urban counterparts. Thus, raising the literacy rate in rural Pakistan would not narrow the rural–urban gap in contraception to cease childbearing but would narrow the rural–urban gap in contraception used to space wanted births further apart. Recommendations for government policy are made.

2001 ◽  
Vol 40 (4II) ◽  
pp. 1077-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahnaz Hamid ◽  
Rehana Siddiqui

The comparison of human development indicators in Table 1 shows that Pakistan’s performance is below the average for South Asian countries and below the average for the developing countries. Furthermore, gender differences in human development are also significant within country and across countries. For example, in 1999, differences in male and female literacy rate was 24 points in Pakistan, higher then the difference in less developed countries (equalling 15 points). [See HDC (2001)]. Similarly, within Pakistan, male literacy rate increased from 35 percent in 1980-81 to 56.6 percent in 1998-99 whereas female literacy rate increased from 16 percent in 1980-81 to 32.6 percent in 1998-99. This shows that despite doubling of female literacy rate, the gap between male and female literacy rate widened from 19 percent in 1980-81 to 24 percent in 1998-99. Similarly, another indicator of human capital, i.e., the net enrolment rates at primary level exhibited a declining trend in 1990s, particularly among males. An important reason for the decline could be rise in poverty. Table 2 shows a sustained increase in net enrolment ratio with income, and the positive income effect is higher in urban areas. In rural areas, the enrolment rate increases with income but there is slight decline in female enrolment rate at the highest income level. Thus, despite rapid rise in female enrolment the gender, differences persist and income is the main factor affecting demand for education.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Showkat Ahmad Bhat ◽  
Aashaq Hussain Bhat ◽  
Dr. P. Chinnathurai

In India, though much emphasis is being laid on the gender equality in terms of education, yet discrimination in access to education does exist. There is a rural and urban divide in access to education for women. In Jammu and Kashmir too, female literacy rate is quite low and stands at 58.01 percent. The rural female literacy rate in J&K is 53.36 percent to 70.19 percent for urban females which earlier in the Census of 2001 was 36.7% at rural and 61.9% at the urban level, respectively. Also, there is a large gap in the male and female literacy levels in this border state. The present study examines the issues of education for empowering women in the rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir and seeks to address the challenges towards education of rural women in Jammu and Kashmir.


2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-54
Author(s):  
Muhammad Mahmudul Hasan ◽  
Mirajul Islam ◽  
Md Saifullah Sakib ◽  
Md Iqramul Haq

Bangladesh has met a lot of challenges in recent decades. The remarkable decline in fertility is one of the major challenges faced by this country. The rate of fertility in rural areas is still higher than urban areas. The proximate determinants of fertility which influence fertility directly are analyzed in this study for urban and rural areas separately as well as the study quantify the decomposition of the differences in total fertility rate (TFR) in residence during 1993-94 to 2014. The effectiveness of contraceptive use is found to be the most important factor for declining fertility. The result revealed that the index of contraception shows a declining trend, indicating an increasingly inhibiting effect on fertility in both urban and rural areas of Bangladesh. The inhibition effect of postpartum infecundability decreases with increase in urbanization. The decomposition analysis shows that fertility decline has been occurred due to delay marriage, increase of contraception practice, shortening of postpartum infecundability period, increase proportion in induced abortion and the interaction factor. Dhaka Univ. J. Sci. 66(1): 49-54, 2018 (January)


Author(s):  
Kavita Suri

India has made many strides in the field of education in the past few decades but still the fact remains that our country is the home to the largest number of illiterate population in the world. About one-third of India's population is currently functionally illiterate and about 50% of the entire adult female population cannot read or write. The rate of illiteracy is particularly high in rural areas, especially among women. Women's education is crucial to the overall development of any country. In India, though much emphasis is being laid on the gender equality in terms of education, yet discrimination in access to education does exist. There is a rural and urban divide in access to education for women. In Jammu and Kashmir too, female literacy rate is quite low and stands at 58.01 percent. The rural female literacy rate in J&K is 53.36 percent to 70.19 percent for urban females which earlier in the Census of 2001 was 36.7% at rural and 61.9% at the urban level, respectively. Also, there is a large gap in the male and female literacy levels in this border state. The present study examines the issues of education for empowering women in the rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir and seeks to address the challenges towards education of rural women in Jammu and Kashmir.


1985 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Tuladhar

SummaryThis study, based on the Nepal Contraceptive Prevalence Survey carried out in 1981, is the first of its kind. Analysis using a logit-linear model showed that the prevalence of current contraception was directly related to number and sex of living children, and the age of the woman. The prevalence rates are higher among women who did not want more children and women who had discussed family size with their husbands. The prevalence varies according to women's education and work-status. Urban women have a higher prevalence than rural women. Women who have access to the family planning service within a short distance have higher prevalence than those who do not.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Gazali Salifu ◽  
Kamaldeen Mohammed ◽  
Mac-Cauley Harrison ◽  
Aaron Atimpe ◽  
Rogers Wuniwumda Abukari ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Contraceptives use has significant effect on controlling fertility, preventing STIs, reducing unwanted pregnancies and induced abortions. The use of contraceptives among reproductive age women (15-49 years) has been largely reported. However, what is unclear is whether the reported prevalence of, and factors that influence the usage of contraceptives is comparable in the context of young adults (aged 15-24 years) in rural areas. The purpose of this study was therefore to report the prevalence and factors that influence contraceptives use among young women (15-24 years) in rural Ghana.Methods: Data (n = 3797) collected using a questionnaire through a mutli-stage probability sampling method in the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey (GMHS) was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The chi-square test was used to identify significant associations between categorical variables at a significant level of p < 0.05. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses was conducted to explore how well each independent variable predicted contraceptive use. Results: Out of the 3,797 women, only 21.49% (95% CI: 19.56, 23.55) used contraceptives. Number of living children, health insurance, knowledge of fertility period, history of abortion, ever given birth, educational level, age of participants and current union were found to influence contraceptives use. Strong significant predictors (at 95% CI, p<0.05) of contraceptives use were history of abortion, age of participants, educational level, number of living children, and knowledge of fertility period. Conclusion: Low usage of contraceptives has been identified among rural women and so there is the need for policymakers to intensify education and facilitate widespread access to modern contraceptives in rural areas and promote their effective use.


Author(s):  
Kalaichelvi Sivaraman ◽  
Rengasamy Stalin

This research paper is the part of Research Project entitled “Impact of Elected Women Representatives in the Life and Livelihood of the Women in Rural Areas: With Special Reference to Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu” funded by University of Madras under UGC-UPE Scheme.The 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution of India were made by the government to strengthen the position of women and to create a local-level legal foundation for direct democracy for women in both rural and urban areas. The representation for women in local bodies through reservation policies amendment in Constitution of India has stimulated the political participation of women in rural areas. However, when it’s comes to the argument of whether the women reservation in Panchayati Raj helps or benefits to the life and livelihood development of women as a group? The answer is hypothetical because the studies related to the impact of women representatives of Panchayati Raj in the life and livelihood development of women was very less. Therefore, to fill the gap in existing literature, the present study was conducted among the rural women of Tiruvannamalai district to assess the impact of elected women representatives in the physical and financial and business development of the women in rural areas. The findings revealed that during the last five years because of the women representation in their village Panjayati Raj, the Physical Asset of the rural women were increased or developed moderately (55.8%) and Highly (23.4%) and the Financial and Business Asset of the rural women were increased or developed moderately (60.4%) and Highly (18.7%).


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingming Cui ◽  
Xiao-Lin Lu ◽  
Yan-Yu Lyu ◽  
Fang Wang ◽  
Xiao-Lu Xie ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The prevalence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in China declined during 2000–2017 with periconceptional folic acid (FA) supplementation, which is effective in reducing the risk of birth defects. We aimed to assess the knowledge and actual use of FA among Chinese pregnant women and to explore factors associated with FA use before pregnancy. Methods All data were collected in face-to-face interviews during health visits among pregnant women. We collected information about knowledge and use of FA supplements and demographic, socioeconomic, and health status. One maternity and childcare hospital was chosen in each of four cities: Beijing, Huaibei, Kunming, and Haikou. In total, 435 pregnant women were randomly recruited for interviews conducted from June to December 2016. Results A total of 428 pregnant women were included in this survey. Of these, 82.0% (351/428) knew that FA can prevent NTDs, and 75.9% (325/428) knew the correct time to take FA. Overall, 65.9% (282/428) of women knew both that FA can prevent NTDs and the recommended time to take FA before pregnancy. Approximately 95.1% (407/428) of women reported having ever taken FA, only 46.3% (198/428) had begun to take FA supplementation before conception, and 64.5% (109/169) of women from rural areas failed to take FA before pregnancy. Women living in northern China (odds ratio [OR] = 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18–2.77), those with unplanned pregnancy (OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.30–3.04), and highly educated women (OR = 2.37, 95% CI 1.45–3.88) were more likely to know about FA. Women who were homemakers (OR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.21–3.11) and had unplanned pregnancy (OR = 6.18, 95% CI 4.01–9.53) were less likely to begin taking FA before pregnancy. Conclusions Our survey showed that most pregnant women knew about FA. Although preconception intake of FA can help to reduce NTDs, improving the rate of FA intake before pregnancy is needed in urban areas of China, especially among homemakers and women from rural areas or with unplanned pregnancy. Campaigns are needed to increase awareness about FA and FA use before pregnancy among rural women, homemakers, and those with unplanned pregnancy and lower education levels.


Scientifica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahama Saaka ◽  
Jones Akuamoah-Boateng

Background. There are wide differences in the uptake of skilled delivery services between urban and rural women in the northern region of Ghana. This study assessed the rural-urban differences in the prevalence of and factors associated with uptake of skilled delivery in the northern region of Ghana. Methods. The study population comprised postpartum women who had delivered within the last three months prior to the study. The dataset was analyzed using the chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression. Results. The odds of skilled birth attendance (SBA) adjusted for confounding variables in urban areas were higher compared with their rural counterparts (AOR = 1.59; CI: 1. 07–2.37; p=0.02). The determinants of skilled delivery were similar but of different levels and strength in rural and urban areas. The main drivers that explained the relatively high skilled delivery coverage in the urban areas were higher frequency of antenatal care (ANC) attendance, proximity (physical access) to health facility, and greater proportion of women attaining higher educational level of at least secondary school. Distance from health facility less than 4 km was the greatest independent contributor to the variance in skilled delivery in the urban areas, whereas frequency of ANC attendance was the greatest independent contributor in the rural areas. Conclusions. This study identified underlying determinants accounting for rural-urban differences in skilled delivery, and covariate effect was more dominant than coefficient effect. Therefore, urban-rural differences in SBA outcomes were primarily due to differences in the levels of critical determinants rather than the nature of the determinants themselves. Therefore, improving skilled delivery outcomes in this study population and other similar settings will not require different policy frameworks and interventions in dealing with rural-urban disparities in SBA outcomes. However, context-specific tailored approaches and strategies including targeting mechanisms have to be designed differently to reduce the rural-urban differences.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 628-635
Author(s):  
Adeleke NA ◽  
Adebimpe WO ◽  
Farinloye EO ◽  
Olowookere AS

Background: Sexual assault is about the most dehumanizing form of gender based violence against women worldwide. Nigeria and many other countries in Africa do not have National data on women sexual assault. This survey is aimed at generating data on sexual assault against women in Osun state, Nigeria. Objective: To determine the patterns of sexual assault against women in Urban and Rural areas of Osun State in South western Nigeria. Methodology: A cross section survey using interviewer administered questionnaire was carried out among selected 1,200 women aged 15 years and above in urban and rural areas, between August and December 2014. The questionnaire was patterned after WHO Multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence data instrument. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.0. Results: Mean age of the respondents was 23.75 ±(13.22) years in rural area, in the urban area it was 27.69 ±(10.23) years. 46 % and 54 % were married in urban and rural areas respectively. The prevalence of completed rape was 10.0 % in urban and 9.2 % in rural, while that of attempted rape was 31.4 % and 20.0 % in the urban and rural area respectively. Women in the rural areas experienced repeat sexual assault and suffered non-genital injuries more the in urban area. Having partner and living in urban area were associated with female sexual assault. Conclusions: Sexual assault against women constitutes public health issue in Osun state with rural women incurring greater negative health consequences. Primary prevention strategies should focus at young men and women in both rural and urban areas of the state. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.18(3) 2019 p.628-635


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