Survey report: Barbados.

PIP: In the course of the 1980 Contraceptive Survey carried out in Barbados, 1500 men aged 15-49 were interviewed. The percentages using family planning were greatest for men in a formal marriage (57%) and lowest for those living with a women (45%). However, there were larger differences in the type of contraceptive used depending upon the type of conjugal relationship. 20% of the men in a visiting relationship used the condom compared with only 9% of married men. In contrast, only 2% of the men in visiting relationships had a sterilized partner compared with 16% of married men. Men were also asked to give their attitudes toward women, pregnancy, and family planning in an effort to examine attitudes that might affect the fertility of their sexual partners. About 43% of the men thought that women;s status was equal to men's, and 69% agreed it ought to be. More educated and married men were most likely to think that women held a lower status than men. The men wanted an average of 2.1 children, close to the current actual fertility rate. There was little difference by age, education, or other background characteristics. The men agreed that young girls were having babies too early reflecting a nationwide concern about teenage pregnancies. Age 19 was considered the optimal age for beginning a visiting relationship, but the men surveyed felt that marriage should wait until the age of 28 on the average. About 1/2 said that contraceptive decisions should involve both partners.^ieng