Factors associated with the use of family planning among Palestinian women

Weeam S Hammoudeh, Institute of Community and Public Health-Birzeit University
Niveen ME. Abu-Rmeileh, Birzeit University

Fertility rates have continued to decline throughout the world. Palestinian fertility, however, has continued to be amongst the highest in the region despite advances in women’s education, employment, and the availability of family planning programs. Given that family planning plays an important role in lowering fertility, this paper draws on data from the 2006 Palestinian Family Health Survey (PFHS) to identify the factors associated with contraceptive use among Palestinian women. These factors include demographic factors such as age, parity, education, and socioeconomic status as well as other factors related to couple’s attitudes towards family planning, couple agreement on and discussion of the number of children they would like to have, as well as women’s stated fertility preferences and desires. An overview of women’s reasons for not using family planning is also provided.