Fertility pattern and family planning in the Arab sector of
Ahwaz, 2004
M Sharifi, S Nouhjah, F Shokrolahi
West Health Center, Ahwaz/Khuzestan,
Iran
Families with numerous children are a common phenomen in the
Arab countries. Ahwaz(center
of Khuzestan) population is about 1.5 million,over 50% of Ahwaz population is
Arab.Khuzestan
has the second growth rate in the Iran. This article describes fertility style
and family planning practice in Arab women.
In a cross-sectional study 250 Arab
women who attendies to family planning clinic in health centers were comared
with 250 women of other races. Detailed questionnaire was prepared which included
socio-demographic details and question about obstetric history and contraceptive
methods.
Data were collected from 15 health centers in Arab sector of
Ahwaz (center
of Khuzestan, province of Iran) 2004. The questionnaire was completed by the clinic
staff, who interviewed all the women ages 30-40 years.
Overall 28.8 % of
these women were married before age of 18. Age of marriage was different between
the two groups (p=0.02).
Education, gravida, parity kind of delivery was different
between two groups (p<0.001). Also results of our study showed significant differences between two groups in space between pregnancies, rate of consanguineous marriage and history of congenital anomalies in their pregnancies (p<0.001).
Fertility rate in Ahwaz is high and in Arab sector is higher.Family planning
program is an essential need in Arab sector of Ahwaz.
KEY WORDS Family planning, Arab
countries, Fertility