factors affeecting among sudanese women an urban comminity acase study of eldim town

Abstract

Abstract This study is an attempt to investigate some of the factors affecting fertility in a Sudanese urban setting. Fertility is one ofthe factors responsible for the pattern of population change that is believed to be taking place in Sudan. The slight decline in fertility levels had been taken as a main concern. This decline has been noticeable in the urban areas. The core issue is concentrated on analysing factors affecting fertility among women in the urban communities in Sudan, taking El Dueim town as a case stutlv Bougaarts‘s model for the proximate determinants of fertility is used as the analytical framework. Marriage pattern, contraception and post-partum infecundity are analysed as the main proximate determinants that affect fertility directly. Respondent’s education, occupation and type of residence are analysed as the main socio-economic variables that affect the proximate determinants directly and fertility level indirectly. ldeal family size, sex preference and desirability for additional child are analysed as indicators of cultural attitudes that affect fertility behaviour. A siimple of S I0 ever-married women aged 15-49 years was selected from l7 out of the 28 neighbourhoods in the town. The sample was selected randomly using stratified cluster sampling procedure. The I993 census’ Primary Enumeration Areas for El Dueim town formed the sampling frame. The data was collected by face to face interview using a designed questionnaire The levels and patterns of fertility are analysed in relation to demographic and socio- economic characteristics of the respondents. The Total Fertility Rate is reported as 6.5 children per a woman and adjusted to 5.2 children. The completed fertility for women aged 45-49 years on average is 7 livbirths. Fertility is found to be differentiated largely by socio-econoinic and demographic factors. Education, occupation and type of residence have a considerable effect on the proximate determinants of fertility. Ever-use _ knowledge and current use of contraceptives are found to be more common among the women who are educated, engaged in gainful jobs and reside in the town centre& government houses. Post- partum infecundity periods are longer among the uneducated, unemployed and those who reside in fourth class neighbourhood. The long period of infecundity is considered as the main mean to delay birth among this group. The effective use of contraceptive is the main mean to delay birth, which compensate the short periodol" post-partuin infecundity among the former group Th»: average ideal family size was found to be high among women under the age of 20 and those above 40 years. among the uneducated, unemployed and those who reside in the fourth class residences. However, preference for a male child was found to he more common than for a female child with no significant ditTerence among dillerent socio-economic groups.