How Investment in Children Shape Fertility Choices of Families
Author Information
Author(s): Naz Olan, Nayab, Ibrahim Muhammad, Khan Ayesha, Khan Adnan Ahmad
Primary Institution: Research and Development Solutions, Islamabad, Pakistan
Hypothesis
A quantity-quality transition may already be underway in Pakistan, manifesting in a correlation between higher investment in children and the use of family planning.
Conclusion
The study highlights that increased wealth and educational investment in children are linked to reduced fertility and higher contraceptive use among households in Pakistan.
Supporting Evidence
- Families that invest in children's education are more likely to use family planning methods.
- Contraceptive use increases with higher education expenditure per child.
- Households with educated members have significantly higher incomes.
- Affluent women in rural areas may opt for larger families due to cultural preferences.
Takeaway
As families in Pakistan get richer, they tend to have fewer children and spend more on their education, which helps them use family planning methods more.
Methodology
The study conducted a secondary analysis of publicly available data from the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) survey and its complementary Household Integrated Economic Surveys (HIES) for 2018–19, using multinomial logistic regression to assess the correlation between contraceptive use and education expenditure per child.
Limitations
The survey data did not comprehensively capture investment in children's health-related costs, which may affect the overall analysis.
Participant Demographics
The study included married women of reproductive age (MWRA) aged between 15 to 49 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
[1.029, 1.336]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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