Graduation Semester and Year

2011

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work

Department

Social Work

First Advisor

Vijayan K Pillai

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine the determinants of contraceptive use among women ages 15-49 of childbearing age (WCA) and to describe the compositional and processual changes that have taken place in Cameroon between 1991 and 2004. The study constituted a sample size of 3,871 and 10,656 15 to 49 year old women of childbearing from 1991 and 2004 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey datasets respectively. Regression results confirmed that there was considerable support for the hypotheses in 1991 and 2004 except for age at first marriage which was significant but contradictory to the direction proposed in the hypothesis. Compositional changes were found to have occurred between 1991 and 2004 with the following variables: audio or visual media, income, married, number of children, older, other forms, primary, Regions 1 to 4, residence, and secondary education, while Christian, income, married, other forms of relationships, old, primary, and residence showed processual changes during the same period. Only levels of education showed compositional as well as effect changes when the variables were decomposed. The study confirmed that social, cultural, political, and legal determinants affect modern contraceptive use. The study also confirmed that modernization & human capital have influenced modern contraceptive use in Cameroon from 1991 to 2004. Unlike age at first marriage, income, place of residence, and education, supported the hypotheses of the study. The study confirmed that there have been compositional and processual changes in Cameroon from 1991 to 2004.

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Work

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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