DO FERTILITY INTENTIONS PREDICT SUBSEQUENT BEHAVIOR - EVIDENCE FROM PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Data from the 1984 Malaysian Population and Family Survey were matched with birth registration records for 1985-87 to determine the accuracy of statements regarding desired family size that were reported in a h ousehold survey in predicting subsequent reproductive behavior. The fi ndings of this study were that stated fertility intention provides fai rly accurate forecasts of fertility behavior in the subsequent period. In other words, whether a woman has another child is predicted closel y by whether she wanted an additional child. Informational, educationa l, and motivational activities of family planning programs would, ther efore, have greater success in reducing family size if fertility inten tions were taken into account.