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Abstract:
Preliminary results from the 1990 Jordan Population and Family Health Survey show a 20% decline in fertility since the early 1970s. The total fertility rate (TFR, or average lifetime births/woman) declined from 7.7 births in the 1971-1975 period, to 6.6 in 1980-1983, to 5.6 in 1987-1990. A national sample of 6462 evermarried women of childbearing ages were interviewed. More than 1/2 (58%) of respondents had ever used a method of contraception. 35% of married women reported currently using some method of contraception, up from 26% in 1983. The IUD was the most popular modern method--used by 15% of women. Female sterilization (6% of respondents) edged out the pill (5%). These findings show a shift in contraceptive use from the pill to the IUD and female sterilization compared with 1983. In general, older women, those living in big cities, women with a formal education, and those who have children are more likely to use contraception. Compared with other countries, the level of fertility in Jordan is high for the level of contraceptive use. Reliance on traditional methods may account for this difference: 27% were currently using modern methods and 8% traditional. Knowledge of contraceptive methods is high. Almost all women knew of at least 1 method of family planning, either modern or traditional. The pill and IUD were the best-known methods; 98% of the women knew at least 1 of these. The next best-known were traditional methods: periodic abstinence (77%) and withdrawal (69%). Most women who knew a family planning method also knew where to obtain it. For example, more than 94% of those surveyed knew about female sterilization, of whom 85% knew where to go to have it done. The survey showed infant mortality in Jordan had declined to 27/1000 livebirths. Almost all children under 2 had received some vaccinations, and almost all are breastfed for at least some time. There seems to be a strong program prompting diphtheria/pertussis/typhoid, polio, and measles vaccination in Jordan, according to the report. Of all children 12-23 months, 88% had received these vaccinations, although coverage declined with successive doses.