The Theory of Planned Behavior: Measuring Partners’ Pregnancy Intentions in Rural Malawi

• In Event: 215 - Regular Session. Fertility 2

Abstract

Male participation in childbearing decisions is predictive of their future involvement with children, which impacts child outcomes in adulthood. Nevertheless, research examining male fertility intentions is scarce, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. I use couple-level panel data from a study of young adults in Malawi to examine how the measurement of fertility intentions impacts the strength of both male and female partners’ fertility intentions for predicting subsequent pregnancy. Using the theory of planned behavior, I estimate fertility intentions using measures of intentions, expectations, and perceptions. I then create a factor score that includes all three measures. Results show that all measures are positive and significant predictors of subsequent pregnancy for both male and female partners. Female perceptions are stronger predictors than male perceptions, but all other measures (expectations, intentions, and the factor score) show that male and female perceptions predict pregnancy equally.

Author

• Ashley Larsen Gibby, Penn State