SIGNIFICANCE OF BELIEFS AND VALUES IN PREDICTING FERTILITY AND CONTRACEPTIVE BEHAVIOR IN PAKISTAN

A comparative study of 1100 women aged 25-45 years, users and non-user s of modern methods of contraception, in the urban centres of Lahore a nd Faisalabad was conducted in 1991. The objective of the study was to investigate reproductive behaviour and the extent to which social, cu ltural and attitudinal variables, such as beliefs and values about fam ily life, religiosity and fatalism, influence the fertility decision-m aking process. Preferences for smaller families were found to be consi stently associated with modern attitudes and behaviour towards family and religious values and obligations. Family income, husband's occupat ion and religiosity offered no explanation of reproductive behaviour. It is concluded that cultural setting and tradition exert an important influence on reproductive behaviour, independent of economic developm ent.