Abstract
The developmental use of contraceptives over the past five
decade (1940 - 1988) has been studied among 1218 married
Palestinian women residing in the West Bank.
Nearly two-thirds (61.5) of the women in this study
reported using contraceptives. Modern types of contraceptives
(pills and intra-uterine device) were used by 45.7 of the women;
traditional methods (rhythm, withdrawal and breast feeding)
accounted for 12.2; sterilization constituted 2.3; and the
social methods (husband’s absence, wildwood, divorce) were
reported by 1.3 of the sample. Barrier contraceptives (condom,
cap, sponge and diaphragm) were not reported, however, by any
of the women.
A strong relationship was found between the social values
and the type of contraceptives employed by women (only a
negligible percentage resorted to sterilization for birth control).
Educated women used contraceptives more than their uneducated
counterparts. Moreover, regional differences between urban and
rural users are quite substantial. However, these differences can be
attributed to economic and educational variances rather than real
regional ones