Department of Sociology, University of Michigan, USA.
Stud Fam Plann. 2011 Jun;42(2):83-92. doi: 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2011.00268.x.
This study analyzes longitudinal data from couples in rural Nepal to investigate the influence of spousal communication about family planning on their subsequent contraceptive use. The study expands current understanding of the communication-contraception link by (a) exploiting monthly panel data to conduct an event history analysis, (b) incorporating both wives' and husbands' perceptions of communication, and (c) distinguishing effects of spousal communication on the use of four contraceptive methods. The findings provide new evidence of a strong positive impact of spousal communication on contraceptive use, even when controlling for confounding variables. Wives' reports of communication are substantial explanatory factors in couples' initiation of all contraceptive methods examined. Husbands' reports of communication predict couples'subsequent use of male-controlled methods. This analysis advances our understanding of how marital dynamics--as well as husbands' perceptions of these dynamics--influence fertility behavior, and should encourage policies to promote greater integration of men into family planning programs.
本研究利用尼泊尔农村地区夫妇的纵向数据，考察了夫妻之间关于计划生育的沟通对他们随后使用避孕措施的影响。该研究通过（a）利用月度面板数据进行事件历史分析，（b）纳入妻子和丈夫对沟通的看法，以及（c）区分夫妻沟通对四种避孕方法使用的影响，扩展了当前对沟通-避孕联系的理解。研究结果提供了新的证据，表明夫妻之间的沟通对避孕措施的使用有很强的积极影响，即使在控制了混杂变量的情况下也是如此。妻子对沟通的报告是夫妇开始使用所有四种被研究避孕方法的重要解释因素。丈夫对沟通的报告预测了夫妇随后使用男性控制方法的情况。这一分析增进了我们对婚姻动态——以及丈夫对这些动态的看法——如何影响生育行为的理解，并应鼓励政策促进更多地将男性纳入计划生育方案。
