Her, his, and their fertility desires and contraceptive behaviours: A focus on young couples in six countries

Abstract

Most studies examining contraceptive use among women focus on their own fertility desires and family planning attitudes and do not incorporate the desires and attitudes of their partner. Using Demographic and Health Survey data from young couples (wife is aged 15–24) from six countries, we use descriptive and multivariate analyses to examine the association between couple-level fertility desires and current contraceptive use and women’s future intention to use contraception. Results demonstrate that young couples want to have children immediately or may want to delay having children for two or more years; very few do not want (more) children. Discordant fertility desires were found in all countries. Compared to couples where both partners want a child soon, young couples that want to delay childbearing or where the husband wants a child, and the wife wants to delay or avoid childbearing are significantly more likely to use contraception. Similar results are found for women’s intention to use contraception. When discordant fertility desires are associated with the outcomes, the young wife’s fertility desire matters more than her husband’s. Among young couples, promoting communication and positive social norms for delaying a first or second birth can lead to positive health outcomes for mothers and babies.