THE EFFECTS OF FERTILITY INTENTIONS AND ACCESS TO SERVICES ON CONTRACEPTIVE USE IN TUNISIA

The purpose of this article is to use a structural model to determine the effects of access to social services on contraceptive use in Tunisia. The model examines the effects of the number of currently surviving children on the decision to have additional children and on their spacing. Fertility intentions are then used as right-hand-side endogenous variables in equations that explain current contraceptive method choice. Cross-sectional analysis of the determinants of contraceptive use and fertility indicate how Tunisia might most profitably expand further increase in contraceptive use and, thus, accelerate fertility decline. The results reveal that in Tunisia greater expansion of social services access would significantly increase contraceptive use. Despite the successes of the program, among some socio-economic groups there appear to be continued limitations on access that could be eliminated. -from Authors