Study of Women's Attitude Toward Value of Children and Its Determinants in North Khorasan Province

North Khorasan province has experienced fertility decline and negative population growth during the last decade. Attitude towards value of children is one of the main determining drivers of fertility.

The research method was cross-sectional survey. The sample size was 166 married women aged 15-49 that were selected by multistage sampling method. Data collection instrument was a questionnaire that was completed through face to face interview. The SPSS software was also used for data analysis.

Findings indicated significantly negative relationships between age at marriage, education and gender attitudes and a positive relationship between religiosity and attitudes toward value of children. Turkmens have a stronger attitude toward value of children than other ethnic groups. The results of path analysis indicate that the women's attitudes toward value of children was improved by religiosity and the weakened by higher education, higher age at marriage and modern gender attitudes.

The results showed that education along with the level of religiosity are important determinants of attitudes toward value of children. Therefore, strengthen of religiosity and develop appropriate supportive programs to combine work and child for educated women are necessary.