Polygymy: Deteminants and Impact in Jordan: An Anlytical Study

Abstract

This study focused on examining the different socio-economic determinants of polygamy and its effects on the practices of couples' demographic in Jordan. This study basically depends on the analysis of Jordan Population and Family Health Survey (JPFHS) in year 2007. A set of statistical methods have been used for data processing varied from simple descriptive statistical models and methods, to bilateral descriptive ones, to an advanced statistical models represented by the regression analysis. The results of the study showed that the overall polygamy levels in the Jordanian society maintained the same during the last two decades. But also the study showed decline in polygamy among the more educated and those who live in urban areas. Also it declines among working women, women with younger age when married, women who married from non-kin and women with large age difference with their husbands. Moreover, the study results showed that polygamy has a huge effect on the couples' fertility, using contraceptives, the number of male and female children alive in the family and death of children in the family.