scholarly journals Socio-cultural Constraints and Women’s Decision-making Power Regarding Reproductive Behaviour

1999 ◽  
Vol 38 (4II) ◽  
pp. 689-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Mubashir Ali ◽  
Mehboob Sultan
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Family Size ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Small Family ◽  
Small Family Size ◽  
Ideal Number ◽  
Cultural Constraints

In a previous study [Ali, Siyal and Sultan (1995)], we observed a big gap between behaviour and desires. Only 35 percent women had the number of children that they had desired. Whereas, a very large number of women had more children than their stated ideal number of children. The same data set also showed that a majority of women (54 percent) either wanted to stop having children or wanted to wait at least two years before having another child [Ali and Rukanuddin (1992)]. In practice, all of these women were not protected; instead only 12 percent were practising contraception [Shah and Ali (1992)]. An argument was put forward that, had these women been empowered to decide about the number of children to be born, the scenario would have been different and small family size norms would have prevailed.

Fertility intentions among the working population of Dalian City born between 1980 and 1989

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Hongyan Qiu ◽  
Qun Zhang ◽  
Jin Zhang ◽  
Qingshan Wang ◽  
Lihong Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Income ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Fertility Intentions ◽  
Second Child ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Child Policy ◽  
Future Fertility ◽  
The Future ◽  
Dalian City ◽  
Ideal Number

Abstract In October 2015, the Chinese Government announced that the one-child policy had finally been replaced by a universal two-child policy. China’s universal two-child policy is highly significant because, for the first time in 36 years, no one in an urban city is restricted to having just one child. This cross-sectional study was conducted to explore future fertility intentions and factors influencing individual reproductive behaviour (whether to have two children) in Dalian City. A total of 1370 respondents were interviewed. The respondents’ mean ideal number of children was only 1.73, and urban respondents’ sex preference was symmetrical. A total of 19.0% of the respondents were unmarried, 64.5% were married and had childbearing experience and only 6.3% of married respondents had two children. Among the 1370 participants, 30.4% stated that they would have a second child, while 69.6% refused to have a second child in the future. Binary logistic regression analysis (Model 1) showed that the following characteristics were associated with having only one child in the future: being female, being older, having a lower education level, being born in Dalian, having a lower family income and reporting one child as the ideal number of children. Model 2 (comprising only respondents with childbearing experience) showed that respondents who were female, had a lower family income and were unable to obtain additional financial support from parents were more likely to intend to stick at one child. In addition, respondents’ ideal number of children and childbearing experiences had a significant influence on future fertility intentions. These results suggest that fertility intentions and reproductive behaviours are still below those needed for replacement level fertility in Dalian City. China’s policymakers should pay more attention to these factors (socioeconomic characteristics, economic factors, desired number of children and childbearing experiences) and try to increase individual reproductive behaviour.

scholarly journals FERTILITAS DAN RELASI GENDER DI DESA NEGLASARI, KABUPATEN BOGOR

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dian Ekowati ◽  
Ekawati Sri ◽  
Said Rusli
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Family Size ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Marriage Age ◽  
Women’S Autonomy ◽  
Women's Autonomy ◽  
Freedom Of Movement ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Economic Decision Making ◽  
Generic Theory

Fertility is often seen on the figures and biological sides. Seeing fertility goes beyond both of these will be <br />useful to explore the wishes of each actor , how they relate to each other and to the community , and how the values and aspects of sociological and psychological that is attached in such activities. The study explored how the relationship between gender relations and fertility work ; especially because until now there is no generic theory agreed to this issue . This study used qualitative methods to explore and gain an understanding of how women give birth as related parties with the other actors . The framework of this study were made by utilizing research - research that has been done before , namely the concept of female autonomy ( Mason and Smith , 2003) and the concept of the determinant ( Bongaarts , 1978) . The concept is referred to aspects of women's autonomy is the power of women to make household economic decisions , the power of women to make decisions about family size , women freedom of movement , individual attitudes toward gender attitude of the community , and the movement of women in decision-making ( Mason and Smith , 2003 . Determinants required for connecting between socio - economic variables - culture with fertility because after all , there are facts that can not be denied that fertility is the result of biological activity . The results showed that although the values at the community level suggested to have the number of children that a lot , to a certain extent , the women in the study area can control the number of children they have. This control works through Desired fertility and the determinants , namely : the use of contraception and delay the age of marriage is influenced by women's autonomy and power as proposed by Mason and Smith ( 2003) . Women's autonomy and power in question is the power of women in economic decision-making , decision-making power of women in family size , their physical freedom of movement , the size of the gender attitudes at the community level , and their space in household decisionmaking . The conclusion of this study indicate that in the study area , the use of contraception is more influential in affecting fertility than the actual delay marriage age. <br /> Keywords : Gender Relationships, Fertility, Aspects of Women's Autonomy and Power , Desired Fertility, Actual Fertility, Reuters Determinants  <br />

scholarly journals Challenges in utilisation of small family norm

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 276
Author(s):  
Varuna Pathak ◽  
Madhuri Chandra ◽  
Veena Rathi Bisani
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Family Size ◽  
Basic Question ◽  
Small Family ◽  
Ideal Family ◽  
The Family ◽  
Planning Methods ◽  
National Family Planning ◽  
Ideal Number ◽  
Control Study

Background: India is the most populous country in the world, sustaining 17.5% of the world’s population on 2.4% of the world’s surface area. Despite of India being the first country to formulate a National Family Planning Programme in 1952, the population of India continues to rise. Therefore a basic question arises, as to why do couple have a third child? For stabilization of population every couple must on an average have 2.2 children, but how far our family planning programmes having an impact on the beneficiaries, in terms of their ideologies and utilisation of the programme. To get answers to the above question the present study was undertaken with the following aims and objectives to determine the views about ideal family size and ideal spacing, to determine the degree of knowledge about various contraceptive methods, to know the family size amongst population not adopting small family norm and to know the reason for non-acceptance of family planning methods.Methods: This was a hospital based case control study. Cases were women with two live children and not practicing family planning. Controls included women who opted for family planning methods and adopted the two child norm. Both cases and controls were asked to fill up a questionnaire.Results: Most people practicing small family norm view ideal number of issues ≤ 2 i.e. 88% of males and 91% of females. 59.8% couples not practicing family planning, think ideal spacing ≤ 2 years. 100% controls had the concept of contraception.Conclusions: Desire for a male child in 30.6% cases is the most common reason for couples not following the 2 child norm.

scholarly journals Extrinsic and Existential Mortality Risk in Reproductive Decision-Making: Examining the Effects of COVID-19 Experience and Climate Change Beliefs

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Life History Theory ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Reproductive Decision ◽  
Reproductive Decision Making ◽  
Ideal Number ◽  
Change Beliefs

While the COVID-19 pandemic has presented an immediate risk to human life around the world, climate change poses an arguably greater—although less immediate—threat to our species’ survival. Within the framework of life-history theory (LHT), this pre-registered study investigated whether extrinsic risk (i.e., external factors that pose a risk to an individual’s life, e.g., COVID-19) and existential risk (i.e., risks with outcomes that threaten the existence of humans as a species, e.g., climate change) had similar or different relationships with reproductive decision-making. A UK representative sample of 325 participants between 18 and 35 years of age was asked to indicate their ideal number of children, ideal age to start having children, and whether their desire for a child had recently changed. Participants were asked about their experiences of COVID-19 and given a series of scales with which to assess their beliefs about climate change. In support of LHT, the study found evidence that knowing people who had been hospitalized with or died of COVID-19 was associated with a greater ideal number of children. Conversely, there was no clear evidence of a relationship between climate change beliefs and reproductive decision-making. The repercussions for understanding how we interpret and respond to different forms of mortality risk are discussed.

scholarly journals Exploring The Nexus Between Family Size Planning and Retirement Planning in Ghana

2019 ◽  
pp. 183-216
Author(s):  
Delali Adjoa Dovie
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Family Size ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Retirement Planning ◽  
Retirement Plans ◽  
Small Family ◽  
Large Family Size ◽  
Small Family Size

The study articulates the perspectives and attitudes of workers in an attempt to uncover thoughts and ideas in relation to the phenomena of family size planning and retirement planning. Use was made of both quantitative and qualitative datasets. The sample [n=442] was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. The paper finds that there is a link between family planning and retirement planning. The reasons for this nexus encompass the fact that large family sizes may inhibit saving abilities. Further, large family size hinders the ability to save. The ideal family size in this context ranges between 1 and 5. The findings show that family planning positively correlated (0.688) with retirement planning. Stated differently, family size correlates with planning towards retirement to a greater extent. Whereas large family size inhibits retirement planning, small family size facilitates less expenditure and better savings, and ensures the availability of financial resources to be channeled into retirement plans. These findings reflect a change in thoughts regarding large family size as opposed to small family size. A gradual shift pertains to smaller families with retirement planning in focus. Also, annexed to family planning is social relationship building, both of which have implications for later life planning.

scholarly journals Women’s empowerment and fertility decision-making in 53 low and middle resource countries: a pooled analysis of demographic and health surveys

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e045952
Author(s):  
Rezwanul Haque ◽  
Khorshed Alam ◽  
Syed Mahbubur Rahman ◽  
Syed Afroz Keramat ◽  
Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Wife Beating ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Women Empowerment ◽  
Fertility Desire ◽  
Household Decision ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Household Decision Making ◽  
Ideal Number

ObjectiveWomen’s empowerment and its association with fertility preference are vital for central-level promotional health policy strategies. This study examines the association between women’s empowerment and fertility decision-making in low and middle resource countries (LMRCs).DesignThis cross-sectional study uses the Demographic and Health Survey database.Settings53 LMRCs from six different regions for the period ranging from 2006 to 2018.ParticipantsThe data of women-only aged 35 years and above is used as a unit of analysis. The final sample consists of 91 070 married women.MethodsWe considered two outcome variables: women’s perceived ideal number of children and their ability to achieve preferred fertility desire and the association with women empowerment. Women empowerment was measured by their participation in household decision-making and attitude towards wife-beating. The negative binomial regression model was used to assess women’s perceived ideal number of children, and multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate women’s ability to achieve their preferred fertility desire.ResultsOur study found that empowered women have a relatively low ideal number of children irrespective of the measures used to assess women empowerment. In this study, the measures were participation in household decision-making (incidence rate ratio (IRR): 0.92, 95% CI: 0.91 to 0.93) and attitude towards wife-beating (IRR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.95 to 0.97). In the LMRCs, household decision-making and negative attitude towards wife-beating have been found associated with 1.12 and 1.08 times greater odds of having more than their ideal number of children.ConclusionOur findings suggest that women’s perceived fertility desire can be achieved by enhancing their empowerment. Therefore, a modified community-based family planning programme at the national level is required, highlighting the importance of women’s empowerment on reproductive healthcare as a part of the mission to assist women and couples to have only the number of children they desire.

scholarly journals Fertility Preferences in Saharsa District (Bihar): A Geographical Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-163
Author(s):  
Nitin Kumar Mishra ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Family Size ◽  
Ideal Family Size ◽  
Human Welfare ◽  
Fertility Preferences ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Ideal Family ◽  
Future Fertility ◽  
The Future ◽  
Ideal Number ◽  
The Mean

Fertility preferences in India, expressed in terms of ideal family size and the desire to have additional children, can predict future fertility, with women who have attained or surpassed their ideal family size, or who have explicitly expressed a desire to stop childbearing, less likely than other women to give birth in the future. women will have an unwanted birth is much higher if they have a son than otherwise and as son preference declines, the value of the indicators in predicting the future fertility behaviour of women improves. This paper an attempt to analyze the preferences for family size, sex and the ideal number of the children in population and to suggest some remedial measures to reduce the fertility in general and to enhance human welfare in particular. This study is based on primary data collected through personal survey with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and interview schedule. The mean ideal number of children varies across the demographic, socio-economic and cultural groups. The mean ideal number of children for the women of 15-19 years is 2 children (1.97 per cent) while it is 3 children (3.05 per cent) for 40-44 years of age. The preference of sons against the daughters is higher in each age group.

DESIRED FAMILY SIZE, FAMILY PLANNING AND FERTILITY IN ETHIOPIA

2007 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALOK BHARGAVA
Keyword(s):  
Family Size ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Maternal Education ◽  
Logistic Models ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Small Family Size ◽  
Dichotomous Variables ◽  
Desired Family Size ◽  
Limit Family Size

Summary.This paper models the proximate determinants of children born to over 13,000 Ethiopian women and of the women’s stated preferences for additional births using the data from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2000. Empirical models for the number of children born to women were estimated using Poisson and ordinal regressions. The results show the importance of variables such as maternal education for smaller family size, and that variables reflecting desired family size are strong predictors of the numbers of children born to women. Secondly, binary logistic models for dichotomous variables for women not wanting more children and if getting pregnant would be a ‘big problem’ showed non-linear effects of the surviving and ‘ideal’ number of children. Moreover, the results indicated a desire on the part of women to limit family size, especially as the number of surviving children increased. Probit models were estimated to address potential endogeneity of certain variables. Overall, the results indicated that counselling couples about small family size and increasing the utilization of health care services can lower fertility in Ethiopia.

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