The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

Relationship between value of children and fertility rate in womem referred to Mashhad helth centers

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Elham Fazeli 1
Nahid Golmakani 2
Ali Taghipour 3
Mohammad Tghi Shakeri 4
1 M.Sc. Student of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2 Asistance Professor, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
3 Asistance Professor, Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
4 Professor, Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
10.22038/ijogi.2014.3176
Abstract
Background: The fertility rate is related to economic, social and cultural factors and accurate identification of these factors is necessary. The concept of "value of children" is the nature and degree of parent's assessment of their children that highlights the importance of social structure. By comparison studies between different generations and cultures and considering the importance of reducing the annual population growth rate and its outcome, the present study was evaluated the association of value of children and fertility rate  in women.
Material & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 1392 on 512 women referred to Mashhad health centers. Data gathering scale was demographic questionnaire and Trommsdorff value of children questionnaire that consists four dimensions “Utilitarian-normative, emotional, family, and old age security”. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 16) and kolmogorovsmirnov, pearson and spearman correlation, ANOVA and Tukey test.P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: in present study “old age security” with an average 69.65% have the most important and significant correlation between dimensions of value of children and only between the “family” dimension and the age exists significant relationship (p=0.03). In this study, there was no significant relationship between dimensions of value of children and fertility(p>0.05).
Conclusion: value of children concept is a cultural dependant variable and fertility behavior in women mostly affected by personal and socioeconomic structure.
Keywords
Birth rate
Children
Choice Behavior
Population growth
Social values
Women
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