Factors Influencing Women's Intention to Limit Child Bearing in Malawi

Martin Enoch Palamuleni, North-West University, South Africa

The desire for large family size is one of the factors sustaining high fertility in Africa. Thus, understanding factors that influence the fertility intentions of women is important for both population policy and family planning programs. The study uses 2000 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey to examine factors which influence women's intentions to limit child bearing in Malawi. The results indicate that a greater intention to limit childbearing is associated with older age, larger number of living sons and daughters, being wealthier, no previous child death, knowledge and use of family planning and exposure to media. A high proportion of women desired to limit childbearing, but there was a large unmet need for contraceptives. Thus, improving access to family planning services to women who have achieved their fertility goals would be important.