Spousal discordance on fertility preference and its effect on contraceptive practice among married couples in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia

Tizta T. Degfie, Addis Ababa University
Gily Coene, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Marleen Temmerman, Ghent University
Olivier Degomme, Ghent University

This study aims to assess spousal agreement levels regarding fertility preference and spousal communication, and to look at how it affects contraceptive use by couples. A cross-sectional study to collect quantitative data from March to May 2010 in Jimma zone, Ethiopia, using 811. The study indicated over half of the couples wanted more children and 27.8% of the spouses differed about the desire for more children. The husband’s favourable attitude towards family planning that determined a couple’s use of contraception. Overall, contraceptive prevalence was 42.9%. Among the groups with the highest level of contraceptive users, were couples where the husband does not want any more children. Disparities between husband and wife about the desire for more children sustain the need for male consideration while analysing the unmet need for contraception. Involving men in family planning programs could increase a couple’s contraceptive practice in the future.