Determinants of Fertility Preferences among Married Women in Vavuniya District

Abstract

This study examines the impact of demographic, socio-economic and cultural factors on the fertility preferences among the married women in Vavuniya South Divisional Secretariat in Vavuniya district of Sri Lanka. One hundred and fifty married women aged between 15 and 49 years who have children were selected by a convenience sampling method. The relevant information was gathered through the structured questionnaires during the period from November 2020 to January 2021 in the study area. The data were analyzed using statistical methods such as descriptive statistics, probit models, and marginal effects. In the study, a probit model was used to identify the factors behind the determinants of fertility preferences among married women. The results of probit model show that among the personal factors except age at marriage, all others negatively impact on the preferences for fertility while all other socio-economic factors have a statistically negative impact on it except household monthly earning. However, all cultural factors had positive effect on the fertility preferences among married women in the study. These findings of the study may help policy makers to implement the appropriate family planning programmes in the future in Sri Lanka, and they will help the government to promote women’s labor force participation in the economy.