reproductive norms of post partum Jordanian women attending maternal and child health centres and midwifery hospitals private and governmental in Amman: Part I Actual versus ideal norms of reproduction

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study is to reveal the actual and ideal norms of reproduction of post partum women and to see how far they were correlated. A random sample of 400 post partum women who delivered in hospitals and MCH centres were included. Data was obtained through the use of structured interview. The study revealed that the mean actual age of marriage was 19.7 +/- 3.2 years. The ideal age at marriage however was significantly older than the actual age [21.3 +/- 2.8 years] where t=7.5. The mean age of first pregnancy was 20.3 +/- 3.4 years, the mean ideal age however was significantly older [21.8 +/- 2.6 years] where t = 6.82. There is a positive correlation between the ideal stated and actual spacing carried out r= +1.18. The ideal number of children was significantly lower than their actual number. The average actual 4.2 +/- 2.8 children. The average ideal number of children was significantly less than the actual [2.7 +/- 1.3] where t=10.0. There was a low positive correlation between the actual and ideal number of living children. We can conclude that there was a difference between the actuals and the ideals of reproduction and the differences were statistically significant