In Pakistan, Contraceptive Prevalence is Increasing, but Fertility Remains High

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of the Pakistan Contraceptive Prevalence Survey conducted in 1994-95. Data on marriage patterns contraceptive knowledge and use fertility and fertility preferences and family planning services were taken from a sample of 7922 married women aged 15-49. Overall it is noted that contraceptive prevalence has reached 18% in the country an increase of 50% above the level of 12% recorded in 1991. In addition the ideal family size has been found to have fallen from 4.9 to 3.4 children over the last decade. However the total fertility rate recorded in the 1995 survey was 5.6 live births per woman. Women aged 35 or older had borne an average of 6.8 children of whom 5.7 were living at the time of the survey. If such childbearing trends were to continue it is projected that Pakistani women will have an average of 5.6 births. Moreover it is found that child mortality remains a common experience in the country in which 1 out of the average 6.7 children born to each woman aged 35 or older will die.