Understanding Men's Family Planning and Fertility Intentions in Three Palestinian West Bank Towns

Weeam S. Hammoudeh, Brown University

Fertility trends in the occupied Palestinian territory have showed a steady decline over the last two decades. While the uptake of contraception has been on the rise, very little is known about how decisions about contraception are made at the household level as well as fertility intentions more broadly. This paper is based on 35 in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with men in three West Bank towns, Nablus, Hebron, and Ramallah. The interview data shed light on men's views of childbearing, family size, and contraception; views that have largely been outside the scope of studies on Palestinian fertility. The data also sheds light on perceptions of shifting gender roles among some groups; more emphasis on children's rights as well as women's health in relation to fertility and fertility intentions. The preliminary findings also highlight the increasing role of economic and material considerations when it comes to fertility decision making.