The Relation between Media Consumption Pattern and Change in Fertility Behavior of Married Women in Ahvaz, Iran

Nowadays with the growing media coverage and all aspects of life, one can see their impact on the most sensitive issues, such as fertility. The main aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of media consumption on the fertility behavior of women aged 15-49 years old in Ahvaz. To achieve the appropriate theoretical framework, demographic transition, modernization, and Caldwell and Giddens theorie were employed. 

Methods and Data: 

The sampling method was the proportional stratified randomized method and the sample size was based on Morgan's table with 0.05 error, and 384 people. The data gathering method was survey using questionnaire tool. 

The findings of this study indicate that there is a reverse relationship between the consumption of foreign media and the use of new information technologies and the relationship with the fertility behavior variable. There is no significant relationship between internal media consumption and fertility behavior. 

The results of multiple regression coefficient indicate that the variable of consumption of new information and communication technologies and external media consumption explain 13% of changes in variance of fertility behavior. 

Key Message: 

The findings of this study show that new information and communication technologies in the first place and foreign media in the second place have an impact on fertility.