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  • Title: Husbands as decision-makers in relation to family size: East-West regional differentials in Turkey.
    Author: Kulu I.
    Journal: Nufusbil Derg; 1990; 12():41-64. PubMed ID: 12283728.
    Abstract:
    Fertility studies usually gather information from women only. This sex-bias present in the research fails to take into account the contribution that men make in forming fertility patterns. This study examines the role of Turkish husbands in the decision-making regarding family size and the use of family planning methods. The historic and cultural background in Turkey is based upon a male-dominant structure. This dominant role of men is present on individual, family, community, and national levels. The differences between the Eastern and Western regions, in regard to socio-economic factors is fully explored. The data used in this study comes from a 1988 national health survey. Three questionnaires were applied in 6,552 households in 5 regions. One questionnaire was for the household, one for ever-married women, and one for ever-married men. This paper focuses on the data generated by the husband's questionnaires (a sub-sample of 2,264 respondents). Several factors are identified that maintain an authoritarian, male-dominated system. These factors include type of marriage, arranged marriages, the payment of bride-price, and participation in the labor force. Both men in the East and West expect their wives to fulfill a traditional sex-role. Women are expected to be wives and mothers, and to obey their husbands. Most men do not approve of married women working outside of the home. Traditional values continue to shape the style of relating between men and women in both regions, despite the modernization that has taken place in the West. "Higher socioeconomic development does not necessarily imply the automatic acquisition of modern values." The author does establish that practices that subjugate women are more prevalent and are deeply rooted in the East. In keeping with the cultural practices of the society, male attitudes and values strongly influence family planning practices. One-fourth of the women in a national survey stated that the reason they did not use a contraceptive, although they desired no more children, was because their husband objected. Men in both regions state a higher ideal number of children than women. Men also state a preference for male offspring. A high level of unmet need for services and lack of knowledge about birth control were also reported to be key issues affecting family planning. Three of the primary policy implications put forth based on this study include developing programs that take into consideration the cultural norms of region to be served, making men an integral part of any program, and increasing the autonomy of women through specific education and training programs.
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