The Impact of Social Changes in Omani Woman Fertility
There are many economic and social changes have been happened in Oman after 1970, as a result of the uses of oil revenues. The main social change was educate Omani people in the whole country, especially girls, which lead to delay of age at first marriage, women engaged on work, and increases the use of contraception, which effect the woman fertility.
This study aims to demonstrate some of the recent changes in the Omani society and illustrating the impact of these changes on the fertility level in Oman.It also effort to analyse the fertility data according to 2003 Omani census to show the geographical variations of fertility levelamong Omani regions.Moreover, it stresses the complex relationship between fertility level and education levels, age at first marriage, woman work, the effect of family planning, and urbanization.
The study depends on quantitative methods to achieve its goals, using the second Omani population & housing census 2003. The analysis may include 1993 census and some surveys (especially DHS). The local and international data sources and geographical studies about population and fertility in Oman have been also used. The data were managed, analysed, and presented by some statistical and GIS programs.
The following are findings of the study:
1- Education ( in general and for girls in specific) has played an important role in the reduction of woman fertility in Oman.
2- Age at first marriage has increased to 25 years for female and to 28 years for male.
3- More women have engaged on work as a result of education.
4- The total fertility rate (TFR) has decreased to 3.39 ch./w. in 2003.
5- There are some geographical variations in the TFR between urban and rural and among Omani regions.
Finally, the study gave some recommendations to reduce fertility gap between urban and rural, and also between Omani regions. Moreover, it also recommends that it is important to Omani policy makers to have a special survey for fertility.