جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « Reproductive behavior » در نشریات گروه « پزشکی »

Infertility is one of the reproductive health issues that not only affects infertile couple’s life, but it is a matter of demographic concerns on a vast scale. This study aims to examine the impact of socio-demographic factors on the incidence of infertility.

We used data from our cross-sectional fertility survey conducted in 2017 in four selected provinces of Iran including Gilan, West Azarbaijan, Sistan and Baluchistan, and Yazd. Using a structured questionnaire, 4088 women of reproductive age were interviewed in the survey for their reproductive life history as well as their socio-demographic and economic condition. Bivariate (chi-square test), and multivariate (Multiple Logistic Regression) analyses are applied to the data to meet the aim of the study. P values less than 0.05 are considered statistically significant where differentials are tested.

The prevalence of current infertility according to clinical definition varied from 7.4% in Yazd, 8.6% in West Azerbaijan, 12.4% in Gilan, and 22.3% in Sistan and Baluchistan. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between infertility and the age and age at marriage of women. Controlling for other socio-demographic variables probability of being infertile increases as women get married at an older age. In addition, women who lived in a household with the lowest socio-economic conditions were 80 percent more likely to experience infertility compared to those living in households with the highest socio-economic conditions. Living in Sistan and Baluchistan was also a strong predictor of infertility in the study resulting in a high odds ratio (3.050) compared with women living in Yazd province

Women’s age and age at marriage are the most important demographic characteristics in explaining infertility and having a lower socio-economic condition trigger it. Since the age of marriage is increasing in Iran, it may affect primary infertility where childbearing is postponed to the late 30s and early 40s.

Childbearing is known to be the most critical change factor in population construction. So, the present study was conducted to investigate the impact of childbearing education based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) on the behavioral intention of childless couples.

The present field trial was conducted on 70 childless referred to holistic health centers in Shahrekord in 2022. The study setting was selected by cluster sampling, and the participants were selected by convenience sampling. The instruments used were a checklist of demographic characteristics/childbearing and a questionnaire of childbearing intention. Both groups completed the questionnaire before, immediately, and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26. A P value < 0.05 was considered a significance level.

At baseline, there was no significant difference in the mean scores of TPB constructs, i.e., attitude, social norm, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention, between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, the mean scores obtained for the constructs in the intervention group immediately and one month after the intervention were significantly different from those in the control group (P < 0.05). Also, the mean scores on the constructs in the intervention group increased immediately and one month after the intervention, indicating education’s impact on the childbearing intention (P < 0.05).

Training based on TPB increases the childbearing intention in childless couples; it is therefore recommended to create a social support system and design interventions with a further focus on using this model in educational programs related to population growth policies and encouraging couples to have children.

 Self-care can include the activities that individuals perform in accordance with their needs to maintain and promote their health. Puberty is the most important change that comes with adolescence, which necessitates adolescents to become aware of their sexual and reproductive health.

 The objective of the present study was to investigate the predictors of adolescent females’ sexual and reproductive self-care status.

 This cross-sectional study using random multistage sampling was conducted on adolescent females aged 14 - 19 years in the secondary schools of Karaj, Iran, in 2022. A total of 555 female students voluntarily completed the survey. The survey included the Female Adolescents’ Sexual and Reproductive Self-care Scale (FASRSCS). Pearson’s correlation coefficient and univariable and multivariable linear regression were applied.

 The mean score of the FASRSCS was 65.42 out of 100 (standard deviation (SD) = 10.27). The highest mean score was acquired on the Perception of Female Adolescents of Premarital Sexual Relationships subscale (85.98 (SD = 14.28)), and the lowest mean score was acquired on the Reproductive and Sexual Health Knowledge subscale (36.97 (SD = 23.58)). The total score on the FASRSCS had the strongest association with the Adolescents and Family Interaction subscale (r = 0.71, P < 0.001), and the weakest association was with the Reproductive and Sexual Health Knowledge subscale (r = 0.38, P < 0.001). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that having very strong religious beliefs (β = 0.23, P < 0.001), receiving information regarding puberty and menstrual health from peers (β = -0.20, P < 0.001), and cold parent-child relationship (β = -0.19, P < 0.001) were independent significant predictors of good sexual and reproductive self-care among adolescent females.

 Given the importance of religious beliefs, parent-adolescent relationships, and the sources through which adolescents receive information regarding their sexual and reproductive health self-care, it is necessary to appropriate design interventions, including the aforementioned factors, in order to optimize and promote good sexual and reproductive health among female Iranian adolescents.

The COVID‑19 pandemic has had considerable consequences in many areas of life, including the social area and childbearing plans. The present narrative review aimed to examine the childbearing decisions and its related factors during the COVID‑19 pandemic. This review was conducted by searching in scientific databases, including Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane, PubMed, ProQuest, Scientific Information Database (SID), Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IranDoc) and Iranian Journal Database (Magiran) in June 2022. The search resulted in 111 sources, of which 16 were in line with the research objective. Couples have mainly cancelled or delayed their previous plans related to childbearing decisions. There are two groups of direct and indirect factors related to childbearing decisions during the COVID‑19 pandemic: The former includes (1) well‑being‑related factors such as economic conditions, interpersonal relationships and gender roles in terms of task division; and (2) health‑related factors, including health emergencies and physical and psychological health. The latter includes factors such as social distancing and social media. Based on the results, governments should facilitate childbearing by adjusting existing policies, addressing economic insecurity and protecting the livelihoods of those affected by the crisis. Health policymakers and planners must also prioritize women’s access to reproductive health services in a safe environment while promoting equity in access. It is also necessary to promote the quality and quantity of indirect care and virtual counseling based on the needs of women in crisis.

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may lead to couples not being physically and mentally ready to assume a parenting role.

Given the changes in reproductive behaviors and the lack of accurate information about childbearing factors during the Coronavirus pandemic, this study was conducted to investigates the role of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iranian couples’ childbearing intentions based on the theory of planned behavior model.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 married Iranian women from July to October 2020 using official online popular social networks. Data were collected using a demographic checklist and the researcher-made questionnaire, which was designed based on the main constructs of the planned behavior model.

Testing the indirect relationships of the mediation model effect showed a positive relationship between knowledge (β = 0.226, p < 0.001) and subjective norms (β = 0.155, p = 0.001) about COVID-19. Anxiety about COVID-19 mediated the relationship of knowledge (β = 0.105, p = 0.009), attitude (β = -0.125, p = 0.002), subjective norms (β = 0.238, p < 0.001), and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.513, p < 0.001) about COVID-19 with childbearing intentions.

The results showed that COVID-19-induced anxiety can affect the relationship between the components of the theory of planned behavior model and childbearing intentions. Therefore, it is suggested that by designing appropriate interventions through anxiety-reducing and relaxation techniques, a fundamental step can be taken in increasing childbearing desires.

Delay in parenthood and the related consequences for health, population, society, and economy are significant global challenges. This study was conducted to determine the factors affecting delay in childbearing.

This narrative review was conducted in February 2022 using databases: PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, Science Direct, Cochrane, Scientific Information Database, Iranian Medical Articles Database, Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology, Iranian Magazine Database, and Google Scholar search engine. The search terms used included “delayed childbearing,” “delayed parenthood,” “delayed fertility,” “delay of motherhood,” “parenthood postponement,” “deferred pregnancy,” “reproductive behavior,” and “fertility.”

Seventeen articles were selected for final evaluation. The factors were studied at micro and macro levels. The factors in micro level fell into two classes: personal and interpersonal. Personal factors included extension of women’s education, participation in the labor market, personality traits, attitude and personal preferences, fertility knowledge, and physical and psychological preparation. The interpersonal factors included stable relations with spouse and other important people. The macro level included supportive policies, medical achievements, and sociocultural and economic factors.

Policy‑making and enforcement of interventions, such as improvement of the economic conditions, increased social trust, providing adequate social welfare protection, employment, and support of families using such strategies as creating family‑friendly laws, taking into consideration the conditions of the country will reduce the insecurity perceived by the spouses and contribute to a better childbearing plan. Also, improving self‑efficacy, increasing couples’ reproductive knowledge and modifying their attitude can be helpful to better decision‑making in childbearing.

The family is one of the important social institutions and the function of childbearing is one of the important functions of the family. The decision to have children depends on the individual’s attitude about the consequences of having another child and their perceived norms. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between attitudes toward fertility and childbearing and the value of children with attitudes toward fertility control in married women aged 15 to 45 years in Isfahan.

This study was a cross‑sectional correlational study that was performed on 500 married women with at least one child in health centers affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Data collection tools in this study were standard questionnaires. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22.

The mean score of attitude toward fertility control was 40.43 ± 9.03. The area of security in old age and the area of procrastination had the highest mean values of children and attitudes toward fertility and childbearing, respectively. Analysis of data by Spearman test showed that there is a significant relationship between all dimensions of child value and attitudes toward fertility and childbearing with attitudes toward fertility control (P < 0.05).

A positive attitude toward the child increases the likelihood of having children and believing in the negative impact of the child on freedom reduces the likelihood of having a desire for fertility. Changing attitudes of societies toward childbearing and less desire to have children should not be sought only in material, economic, or social reasons but also cultural factors should be considered in this area.

The concept of negative population growth, population aging, and the need to implement child‑encouraging policies is an important concern in many countries. As this issue is completely cultural and country‑based, this study is designed to assess and prioritize the perception of newly married couples to the policies that may have a crucial role in the childbearing intention around the world.

Through a descriptive cross‑sectional study, 300 couples were selected by a simple random sampling method. Multilevel binary logistic regression was used for investigating the relationships among dimensions of family policies, socio‑demographic variables, and childbearing intention.

Childbearing perception positively correlated with education and permanent job in both genders, maternal age range of 25–35, the higher length of marriage, having more children, and living in a government settlement. The most important family policies that couples preferred were contextual requirements (mean rank of 4.50%). Positive childbearing perception negatively correlated with higher age categories in women, the number of children, rental housing status, no insurance access, higher educational attainment, and low employment ranks in both men and women.

This study cleared that family policies affect the childbearing intention of young couples. Polices involved contextual requirements, supporting couples to integrate work and home, health promotion plans, child‑centered social support, and promoting the level of social and cultural relations. 

Childbearing is the most important determinant of population fluctuations and its studies are more important than other population phenomena. Many factors are associated with childbearing, but individual factors associated with it have been less studied in a specific framework. The present study aimed to explore and identify the factors related to childbearing based on extended theory of planned behavior (ETPB).

This qualitative study was conducted among married women <35 years of age and married men whose spouses were under 35 years of age and lived in the City of Hamadan, Iran, in 2019. The data were collected by semistructured and face‑to‑face in‑depth interviews and continued until the data saturation was reached. Overall, 15 interviews were conducted with 17 people. The data were analyzed, using a directed content analysis approach.

The data analysis resulted in the extraction of 28 main codes, 9 subcategories, and 4 themes, which were correspond to constructs of the theory, consisting of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and social support in the field of childbearing. The main predictors were attitude toward childbearing and perceived control.

The findings of this study showed that ETPB has a potential to explain the intention and behavior of childbearing. The ETPB makes it possible to understand many of the factors associated with childbearing. The results of this study could be the basis for designing appropriate data collection instrument in quantitative studies and vast surveys.

One of the most basic life events is fertility or reproduction, which, although known as a social phenomenon, is a complex and multidimensional concept with economic, cultural, political, and religious significance. The present study aims to explain the pattern of childbearing behaviors in couples.

This study is a focused ethnographic qualitative research. Participants of this study will be 20–35 years old couples who, using purposeful sampling method, will be selected from comprehensive health centers, ultrasound centers, laboratories, premarital counseling centers, offices of obstetricians and midwives, universities, shopping centers, cinemas, parks, restaurants, and entertainment centers in Isfahan, Iran. Sampling will continue considering the strategy of maximum variation in terms of age, occupation, education, and economic status until data saturation is reached. Data will be collected through semi‑structured and in‑depth individual interviews, focus group discussions, observation, field notes, daily notes, and document analysis. Simultaneous with data collection, the data will be analyzed using the thematic analysis method based on Braun and Clarke’s approach.

This present study is expected to lead to a deep understanding and identification of the attitudes, beliefs, and values of couples with regard to childbearing. Moreover, by understanding the pattern of childbearing behaviors of couples, useful information will be provided to the policymakers and planners for effective planning in the field of healthy childbearing. The findings can also be used in reproductive health counseling for newly married couples and community‑based interventions.

Cohesion and sense of ethnicity belonging can be effective in shaping reproductive behaviors. The aim of this study was to compare the reproductive behaviors in two ethnicities of Fars and Turkmen in North Khorasan, Iran.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 406 Fars and Turkmen women using a self-structured reproductive behavior questionnaire between April and September 2017. Content validity and reliability of the tool was confirmed with Cronbach's alpha of 0.75. Data was collected on a self-report basis and analyzed using SPSS software (version 21) and descriptive and analytical indices.

Reproductive behaviors were significantly different between the two groups in terms of number of children (P=0.001), the timing of the first childbirth (P=0.043), interval between the first and second pregnancy (P=0.002), desire to re-childbearing (P=0.002), number of desired children (P=0.025), current method of contraception and decision to continue or terminate unwanted pregnancies (P=0.074). General linear test showed that with the introduction of demographic variables to measure the effect of the number of children in the analysis, the effect of ethnicity on the number of children was removed, but the variables of maternal age (P=0.001), husband's age (P=0.001), education of woman and husband (P=0.001) and the woman's job (P=0.001) remained as effective variables on the number of children.

Today, the value of childbearing has changed more than other family values. In order to achieve the targets of population policies, population policy-making must be based on economic, social, cultural and demographic realities of the societies.

Dramatic changes in the demographic behaviors of Iranian women have led to declining fertility after the mid-1980s. Childlessness is an important and growing issue and has increasingly become the focus of the problem by Iranian population policymakers.
The present study was conducted using the quantitative secondary data analysis method. Using the census microdata of population and housing in 2016, the researchers attempted to investigate the level and predictors of childlessness among married women aged 40–49. The data of 85799 married women aged 40–49 was analyzed.
About 4% of the sample were childless. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the probability of childlessness for married women with university degrees, immigrant women, and employed women is higher than their counterparts. Furthermore, the findings suggested that women who live in apartments and those who live in private houses are less likely childless than their counterparts. Bigger houses lower the probability of being childless.
Government planning and policymaking to reducethe proportion of childlessness should improve household circumstances, especially their housing.

Fertility patterns are a key to the estimation of future population size, but they are restricted by serious indecision. One-child families are one of these patterns that is caused by a set of factors and one of these factors is the fear of re-pregnancy. In this regard, this study aimed to use a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program to reduce the fear of women who have been experiencing anxiety after their first pregnancy and delivery.

This interventional study was conducted on 67 one-child women, who at least 6 years have been passed since the birth of their child and according to the short form of the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ-17), have been experienced anxiety. These women were randomly divided into control and intervention groups. For the intervention group, the MBSR program was conducted in 8 sessions, once every week, each session lasting 2.5 hours. At the end of the program, a second PRAQ-17 was completed by both groups.

The findings showed that the MBSR approach in the intervention group significantly decreased the anxiety score in total (p=0.001) and individually in all subcategories.

The MBSR approach can reduce the anxiety of one-child women who have experienced anxiety after their pregnancy and childbirth. Thus, using this method in helping women with pregnancy-related anxiety is recommended to increase the birth rate.

Reproductive Life Planning (RLP) is a person‑centered approach that investigates the reproductive needs, values, and priorities of each person and not only reduces the risk of unwanted pregnancies but also improves pregnancy outcomes and childbirth by investigating the health behaviors and underlying diseases of each individual. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess RLP in pregnant women.

This descriptive cross‑sectional study was carried out on 1019 pregnant women who were referred to outpatient clinics of teaching hospitals in Mashhad, Iran, during May–August 2019. The participants were selected using a convenience sampling method. The data collection tool used was a questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software.

The results of this study showed that about two‑thirds of the participants had a plan for their reproductive years. The age range of the participants was 13–47 years. Among the women, 38.60% had experienced failure of contraceptive method, and 32.20% had an unmet need for family planning‎. Moreover, only one‑third of the women had been referred for preconception care, but 88.70% of the pregnant women had their initial prenatal care visit in their first trimester.

Given the considerable number of unwanted pregnancies and unmet needs for family planning in the present study, the modification of family planning policies seems necessary. Various strategies have been proposed to prevent unintended pregnancies such as RLP. The long‑term goals of RLP are to plan pregnancies and improve maternal and infant outcomes.

Childbearing is an important biological and social event in the life of most women. It is a voluntary behavior that can be affected by many factors. Behavioral theories are a potential path way to study and influence childbearing behavior. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of an educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) on childbearing intentions in women presenting to premarital counseling centers in Tehran.

This randomized controlled quasi‑experimental study was conducted on 150 women aged 20–35 years presenting to premarital counseling centers. The participating women were randomly divided into an intervention (n = 75) and a control (n = 75) group using randomized sampling in Excel. The intervention group received two 90‑min sessions of training. The effect of training was assessed 6 weeks after the intervention using the researcher‑made questionnaire based on the components of the TPB. The questionnaires included subjects’ demographic details, knowledge (11 items), attitude (13 items), subjective norms (10 items), perceived behavioral control (8 items), and behavioral intention (4 items). Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 22) and independent t‑test, Chi‑square, Mann–Whitney U‑test, and Wilcoxon test. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

There were significant differences between the intervention and control group after the intervention in the Mean ± SD scores of knowledge (6.73 ± 2.63 vs. 4.73 ± 2.85, P = 0.001), attitude (48.23 ± 7.19 vs. 40.13 ± 5.80, P = 0.001), perceived behavioral control (33.19 ± 5.28 vs. 23.59 ± 3.47, P = 0.001), and behavioral intention (13.84 ± 2.95 vs. 11.77 ± 2.12, P = 0.027).

The findings showed that an education based on the TPB increased women’s childbearing intentions by affecting their knowledge, attitude, perceived behavioral control, and intention. It is therefore essential to implement better public policies, create a more conducive educational setting for women of different age groups, and build a social support system.

Findings and published statistical data show that the fertility rate and the tendency towards childbearing are decreasing in many countries, including Iran. Many personal, social, economic, and cultural factors can cause this decline. Nonetheless, cultural changes have flourished, among other factors in recent years. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the role of cultural changes in a childbearing tendency among women. 

The research has a correlational design. The statistical population consisted of married women aged 15 to 45 years in Tabriz City, Iran, in 2017. The sample size was calculated as 384 with the Cochran formula. The samples were selected using a multistage cluster sampling method. The study measures were childbearing attitude scale, family values, religious values, global values, and a researcher-made individualism scale. The obtained data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation and multivariate regression. 

Findings showed that the tendency towards childbearing of women in Tabriz is low. Besides, there is a significant negative correlation between a tendency towards childbearing and variables of individualism (r=-0.37, P=0.000) and adherence to universal values (r=-0.35, P=0.001). But there is a significant positive relationship between the variables of adherence to family values (r=0.32, P=0.000) and religious values (r=-0.36, P=0.000) with the tendency towards childbearing. Additionally, independent variables introduced in the research regression model can explain 38% of the variations in the tendency towards childbearing. 

The role of cultural factors affecting procreation should be considered to modify the current reducing trend of childbearing among Iranian families.