Fertility patterns: a comparative study of productive activities in Egypt, Kuwait and Iraq

ABSTRACT

Fertility variables in three different Arab countries were studied by interviewing recently delivered mothers. Using a preplanned and pretested questionnaire. Data were collected on socio-economic characteristics of the family which was used for the classification of the families into 3 strata. Fertility data included age at menarche, age at marriage, gravidity parity, average interval between each delivery and the succeeding pregnancy and family planning practices before the last pregnancy. The results showed that social class was an important factor affecting age at menarche, age at marriage and inter-pregnancy delivery interval. In the three countries, gravidity and parity were related to age of mother. Family planning practices were not commonly adopted by most mothers included in the study. In general, the pill was the most common method used by those who practice family planning followed by intra-uterine devices in Egypt and Iraq, but local applications were commonly practiced by Kuwaiti mothers