Assessment of the Determinants of Couples Decisions on Fertility Preference in Kishapu and Mvomero Districts,Tanzania

This study examined the determinants of couple’s decisions on fertility preference in Tanzania, particularly in Kishapu and Mvomero districts. It is based in the assumption that factors like social network, communications, educations, employment, decision-making, ownership of property, attitudes towards wife beating, patriarchy, religion and ethnicity may affect couples decisions on the number of children they should have. The study used cross section study design and it involved 586 respondents (293 couples) from Kishapu and Mvomero districts selected using multistage sampling. Data were collected using interviews and focus group discussions and were analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 17. Social network was found to have significant effect on family planning (FP) for both couples and on family size (FS) for men, though the effect was found to depend on the nature of relationship, discussion, encouragement and method used social network member. Communication was observed to have significant impact on contraceptive use and FS based on the type of discussion however frequency and timing of communication matters a lot. Social economic status revealed that, even some formal education have effect on contraceptive use but for impact to be felt on family size the secondary education was found to be important. Ownership of property especially house was found to have significant effect on FS for women and ownership of land for men. Culture was found to influence contraceptive use and family size in different ways. A great association was found between ones religious affiliation and contraceptive use and FS, moreover, high levels of religiousity was associated with large family size. Ethnicity also appeared to have significant association with contraceptive use and FS especially among Sukuma respondents. This study recommends the need for involvement of men and women of reproductive age in all levels of policy development, programme plans and implementations