Jordanian married Muslim women's intentions to use oral contraceptives

Background: High fertility rates and moderate to low contraceptive use in the Arab Islamic countries, and Jordan in particular, are issues of international nursing importance. Aim: By using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as the conceptual framework, the relationships between married Jordanian Muslim women's previous contraceptive use, type of experience, and intention to use oral contraceptives (OCs) were examined. The relationship between selected demographic variables and intention to use OCs was also examined. Methods: The study was part of a large cross-sectional survey. The Intention to Use Oral Contraceptive Tool was used to elicit participants' intentions and beliefs regarding oral contraceptive use. Sample: The study sample was composed of 245 Jordanian married Muslim women. Results: Results revealed a significant relationship between previous oral contraceptive use and intention to use OCs. The relationships between type of experience, whether successful or unsuccessful, with previous OC use, and intention to use OCs were not significant. Conclusion: Nursing implications regarding the provision of family planning services that are sensitive to Jordanian Muslim women's religious preferences are discussed.