Policy implications and future program issues family planning and fertility reduction in Jordan

The objective of this paper is to deduce the main issues and future policies and program directions of family planning and related development (i.e. non-family planning) activities to reduce fertility levels in Jordan. To achieve this objective the paper relies on critically reviewing and investigating the fertility levels and trends, in addition to the differentials and changes of the determining factors of fertility during the period 1976-1985. The study utilizes the available published data provided mainly by the 1976 Jordan fertility survey and the 1983 Fertility and Family Health Survey, and the 1985 Jordan Husbands Survey. Differentials and changes in the age at marriage, contraceptive use, breastfeeding and postpartum infecundability were discussed, with regard to their correlations with the socio-economic, cultural background characteristics and their impact on fertility levels and trends. Accordingly, the causes of fertility decline during the period 1976-1983 were identified. The main findings of this paper are that delay of age at first marriage, promoting education of all types specially in rural and poor areas and making it available and accessible for all female population, Promotion of family planning as a health issue and its full integration with child and maternal programs, family planning information, education and communication (IEC) and availability of services to younger cohorts and married couples, integration of family planning activities in rural development projects, improving the role and status of women through education, participation in the labor force and integration into the socio-economic life of their communities, upgrading the management and promotion of professionalism in the family planning movement, and increase of male involvement in family planning, are the most important issues and program areas for future family planning policies and activities in Jordan.