Voluntary Childlessness Research Articles

Childless by Choice in Contemporary China: Reasons and Consequences

The article considers financial, social, and personal reasons for childlessness by choice among young Chinese and analyzes the consequences of such a decision. Voluntary childlessness is a new phenomenon for China that became more present even after the abolition of the one-child policy and an increase in the promotion of early marriages and childbirth. Traditional family values gradually ceased importance in society. Resembling developed Western countries, the majority of voluntary childless Chinese belongs to well-educated urban citizens who prioritize quality life and personal development over having children. However, many decide for childlessness under financial insecurity due to the high living costs in the first-and second-tier cities, lack of a developed social security system, and obligation to support elderly parents. Even though most voluntary childless are satisfied with their choice, they often feel pressured and pushed to childbirth by their families and even by the government. China is facing a growing aging population problem. Attempting to solve the emerging issue, the Party increases propaganda of childbirth, and voluntary childlessness receives more attention in society, which exerts more emotional pressure on childless Chinese, who fear additional stress and discrimination at the workplace and in personal life.

Development and Effectiveness of Education Programs using STEAM-based Smart Apps that support Children's Free play

Development and Effectiveness of Education Programs using STEAM-based Smart Apps that support Children's Free play

New normativity and reproductive choice: an attempt at comprehension

The article discusses two “special types” of reproductive choices – combating infertility through assisted reproductive technologies and voluntary childlessness. Particular attention is paid to the phenomenon of voluntary childlessness. Basing on the analysis of public opinion polls, reconstruction of historical realities of the second half of XX century, normogenesis studies, new psychodynamic theories of transgenerational transmission of traumatic experience, and philosophical ideas of intentionality of acceptance and hospitality, the author analyzes the existing reproductive practices in their connection with procreative norms. The reasons for the increasing spread of voluntary childlessness, according to the author of the article, are largely connected to the transgenerational transmission of experience of violence. The author’s hypothesis is based on psychodynamic ideas about transgenerational trauma and perverse maternal attitude and is that the spread of the voluntary childlessness in the generation of the 1990s may be caused by the impossibility of hospitality, acceptance, and vulnerability due to the lack of failure of the maternal functionary as a container and the lack of introjects of loving and guiding parent figures (“empty superego”). Thus, the new “shapeless” normativity, creating the illusion of “freedom to be oneself”, may prove to be a projection of a split, lifeless and empty collective unconscious superego, generated by a culture of violence that requires moral content, which has been abolished.

Media Frames of Voluntary Childlessness in the United States from 1989 to 2018

Voluntary childlessness (VC) is a family communication issue which has garnered media attention for over 30 years. Guided by framing theory, in the present study we analyze media frames of voluntary childlessness in the United States between 1989 and 2018 to critically examine the formation of discourses governing childfree families over time. Guided by mixed method media frame analysis, 103 news articles were inductively thematized and then deductively coded to identify and quantify the dominant frames and the frame elements (i.e., story characters and generalizations to ongoing phenomena) that comprised them. Results first offer demographic information which provides necessary context to indicate from whom and where news coverage of VC is produced. Results further indicated five dominant frames of childfree families, seven character categories which elucidate who is (and is not) represented in news media coverage of VC, and three domains of generalizations which underscore the connection between VC and population changes, policy issues, and cultural and social shifts. Findings also offer empirical support for changes in frames and frame elements over time. The present findings offer a historical and culturally situated view of voluntary childlessness over the past three decades. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Psychological and pedagogical potential of life orientations of spouses with various dominant marital behavior

The article is devoted to the problem of transformation of family values, the emergence of new types of families in the context of modern marriage. The authors believe that in post-Soviet society in Russia, the axiological approach is the most heuristic in the study of marriage. The authors used a psychological analysis of the life-meaning orientations of spouses with a traditional type of marriage and spouses focused on voluntary childlessness. The results of the study showed that the specifics of life and life orientations of the husband and wife, their personal characteristics determine the attitudes and expectations of marital relations, the choice of the type of family. It was revealed that the life orientations of spouses who support voluntary childlessness are contradictory: men, when they are dissatisfied with their lives in the present and not confident in their abilities, focused on getting pleasure as the meaning of life here and now; and the wife, experiencing the riches of his life, demonstrating the confidence, commitment to the future, a higher meaning of life. Spouses from the traditional type of family are both happy with their lives. At the same time, husbands are characterized by an average level of meaningfulness of life, focus on the implementation of current tasks, and wives with a high sense of life are focused on the future, are confident in the possibility of building a life in accordance with their ideas about its meaning and life goals.

Life Stories of Voluntarily Childless Older People: A Retrospective View on Their Reasons and Experiences

This article investigates the reasons for and experiences of voluntary childlessness throughout the life course. Thirteen voluntarily childless people aged 60 years and older (Belgium) were interviewed using the McAdams approach (2005). Four profiles were derived from the reasons given for voluntary childlessness: the “liberated careerist,” the “social critic,” the “acquiescent partner,” and “voluntarily childless because of life course circumstances.” Results further indicate that older people experience feelings of acceptance, loss (missing familiarity with current trends, being helped, and children’s company), and relief concerning their voluntary childlessness. Moreover, they rarely seem to regret their choice. The discussion indicates the existence of voluntary childlessness among older people, a phenomenon sometimes questioned in the existing scientific literature. As part of a diverse target group, each of these older adults has their personal reasons and experiences regarding childlessness.

A Systematic Observation of Early Childhood Educators Accompanying Young Children's Free Play at Emmi Pikler Nursery School: Instrumental Behaviors and Their Relational Value.

A significant number of literature documents young children’s innate interest in discovering their surroundings and gradually developing more complex activities and thoughts. It has been demonstrated that when environments support young children’s innate interest and progressive autonomy, they help children acquire a self-determined behavior. However, little is known about the application of this evidence in the daily practice of early childhood educational settings. This study examines Emmi Pikler Nursery School, a center that implements an autonomy-supportive educational approach. We conducted a systematic observation of two experienced Pikler educators while they accompanied young children’s free play. Our objective was to assess: if educators’ instrumental action follows a systematic behavioral sequence, if specific relational behaviors support each instrumental action, and if educators display differentiated intervention levels concerning children’s free play through the adaptation of the relational dimension. We conducted a lag sequential analysis to find behavioral patterns and concurrences between the observed behaviors. Our findings indicate that educators perform systematic action sequences and that each of the instrumental actions of those sequences has a specific relational value. We conclude that educators display three differentiated intervention levels depending on the child and the circumstances of the moment, providing appropriate autonomy support and reinforcing children’s self-determination.

Identifying Patient Priorities for Preconception and Pregnancy Counseling in IBD.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) commonly affects women of reproductive age. Many patients lacking knowledge about IBD and reproduction make uninformed decisions, such as voluntary childlessness and medication cessation. Education should be individualized to the patient's knowledge base and include topics of most importance to the patient. Our study aimed to describe the priority rankings of topics selected by patients seeking preconception and pregnancy counseling. As part of an ongoing prospective study, patients with IBD were asked to rank, in order of importance, nine a priori preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum topics they would like addressed by our specialized care team, which includes an IBD physician and a high-risk obstetrician. χ2 and Fisher's exact tests were used to assess associations between clinical and demographic characteristics and priority rankings, and a p value cutoff for significance was set as .05. One hundred and fifty-eight women with IBD (mean (IQR) age; 32 (28-37) years) were seen in consultation, and 116 (70 (60%) CD, 43 (37%) UC, and 3 (3%) IBD-U) completed intake forms were analyzed. There were 78 (68%) women seen in the preconception stage, median age 31 (IQR 28-34), and 38 women (32%) were pregnant, median age 32 (IQR 28-33). Safety of IBD medications during pregnancy was most commonly ranked as top priority (40%) for all patients regardless of pregnancy status, followed by control of IBD disease activity and impact on pregnancy (31%), impact of IBD and surgery on fertility (19%), pregnancy outcomes for the baby (18%), mode of delivery (6%), inheritance of IBD (4%), breastfeeding (2%), nutritional health (2%), and vaccines and newborn care (1%). The impact of IBD and surgery on fertility was ranked as the number one priority more often in the preconception group (p value < 0.01) and mode of delivery in the pregnancy group (p value 0.04). Safety of IBD medications remains a priority topic for patients seeking preconception and pregnancy counseling.

YOUNG PEOPLE’S SOCIAL REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT CHILDLESSNESS IDEOLOGY: RESEARCH WITH THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

The article analyses one of the reasons for the decrease in the fertility rate in the city of Volgograd, which is the emergence of the voluntary childlessness ideology and its popularity among young people aged 18 to 25. This article presents the results of the study aimed at identifying gender specificities of social representations of the Volgograd youth group about voluntary childlessness. The methodological basis for the research is J. Abrik and S. Moscovici’s theory of social perceptions. The image of a deliberately childless person is analyzed and the basic personal attributes, given to her by the young natives of Volgograd, are described. In this research, social representations are studied on the basis of the following methods: direct scaling, free association and semantic differential. Statistical data processing was conducted with the help of the SPSS program (“Statistical Package for the Social Sciences”) using the method of single-factor analysis of variance, as well as methods of descriptive statistics. As a method of analyzing text data, a prototypical analysis of P. Verges was chosen. The study involved 60 respondents aged 18 to 25. The sample was formed taking into account gender (30 men and 30 women); marital status was not considered. The results obtained in the course of the study showed that the social perceptions of the youth of the city of Volgograd about the voluntary childlessness differ depending on gender. The negative attitude towards the voluntary-childless community is manifested more among young women than men.

Children’s Abilities, Freedom, and the Process of Capability-Formation

ABSTRACT When thinking about children's entitlements, priority tends to be given to protecting their well-being achievements, while limiting their entitlement to exercise freedoms and agency. An assumption of “inability” is used as the grounding justification for limiting children's freedom and agency. Using the capability approach (CA) as a method to conceptualise what is owed to individuals, this article shows that the justifiability of restricting freedom to “unable” individuals is not as straightforward as assumed. Understanding the role that abilities play in justifiably limiting freedom requires an assessment of what being “(un)able” means, and how this “inability” may translate into particular privileges or restrictions. The article, thus, intends to give an answer to the following questions: first, how should the concept of “ability” be understood within the CA? And, second, how does ability bind our understanding of the legitimate restriction of freedom and agency? The article offers a response to the first question through an evolving and dynamic understanding of “ability.” It claims, moreover, that the process through which abilities develop (the process of capability-formation) ought to be taken into account when assessing what is owed to an individual as a matter of justice.

I’ve changed my mind. The intentions to be childless, their stability and realisation

ABSTRACT Childlessness has been increasing over the last decades in most European societies. Previous studies have mostly focused on the ‘involuntary’ component of childlessness, and factors affecting voluntary childlessness remained poorly understood. This article presents an analysis of the factors associated with the intention to be childless, and the realisation and stability of this intention in the short-term. The theory of planned behaviour is applied to relate childlessness intentions with their realisation and to explore the role of ideational factors on the variability of possible fertility outcomes. Results show that more than 90% of the respondents realised their desire to remain childless. Childlessness intentions, however, tend to be less stable than parenthood ones, at all ages with the exception of individuals aged 40 years or more. Individuals’ attitudes towards childbearing and perceived social pressure toward parenthood strongly correlate with the stability of the intentions toward childlessness or parenthood, whereas socio-economic characteristics and factors connected with individuals’ perceived control count for little. The study sheds light on people who voluntarily live without children and suggests that being childless is not always the result of opportunities and external constraints, but it could be a choice originating from personal and intimate domains of life.

Gönüllü Çocuksuzluğu Tercih Eden Kadınlar Üzerine Fenomenolojik Bir Araştırma

The way in which women decide to have children is affected by many processes, including personal, social, historical, and political. Maternity is seen as an inevitable part of women’s happiness and a complement to their femininity. In traditional Turkish family structure, femininity is sanctified through maternity, and the status of women in the family and society is shaped by whether they have children or not. The status of women began to change with urbanization and also by virtue of women’s increasing participation in the workforce. The idea began to be expressed that maternity is not necessarily the fate of women, and given that it is a preference, which includes not only satisfaction but also difficulty, childlessness might be preferred. This study aims to examine the voluntary childlessness preferences of women. For this purpose, the study group consisted of four married women, who currently do not have children and who prefer not to have children. The age of the participants varies between 30 and 40 years and they are all voluntary. The study is designed according to descriptive phenomenology design of qualitative research methodology. The data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews. In the analysis of the data, Colaizzi’s (1978) phenomenological analysis steps were followed. During the interviews, it was seen that participants emphasized the concepts of responsibility and care giving. As a result of the analysis, it appears that the data are combined under the following themes: the meaning of maternity, the meaning of the concept of maternity in social circles, the meaning of not wanting a child, effects of voluntary childlessness, the decision of voluntary childlessness, social reactions to voluntary childlessness, and dilemmas experienced in the face of voluntary childlessness. It was observed that instinctive attitudes about maternity and perceptions on child bearing are still ongoing, that the pressure of being a mother has been preserved in the social environment, and that voluntarily childfree women define childlessness as freedom in many areas of life. With this study we make a contribution to the literature by attending to the voice of voluntarily childless women in the context of a woman’s right to decide on her own body.

“A Child is as important as Life”: Reflections on the Value of Children from Infertile Couples

BACKGROUND: Most African societies have no tradition of idealized celibacy or voluntary childlessness. Although the norms on parenthood are changing, adults are customarily expected to marry and bear children.&#x0D; AIM: This study examined the perceived value of children among infertile couples in Kwara South, Nigeria.&#x0D; METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven infertile couples recruited through snowball sampling technique. Data were organized using ATLAS.ti 8 and analyzed by thematic analysis.&#x0D; RESULTS: The study revealed that perceptions of the value of children are embedded in sociocultural norms and are strongly linked to religion, patriarchy, and the need for family/marriage sustainability. Childbearing was perceived as the fulfillment of divine injunction; as such, children were regarded as divine. While women believed children are sources of fulfillment and balanced life, most men saw them as life itself. Boys are collectively thought to ensure lineage security and confer honor and prestige on men. A child is believed to give women a permanent seat in marriage.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: These insights on the values of children within the Nigerian cultural context can be inculcated in programs and services targeted at alleviating the effect of infertility on childless couples. Innovative cultural programs that will increase the worth of the girl child are also encouraged.

Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Pregnancy in Females with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An International, Multi-centre Study.

Poor knowledge of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] in pregnancy underlies unwarranted voluntary childlessness [VC], and risks poorer obstetric outcomes and adverse fetal outcomes. IBD is increasing worldwide but education on IBD issues might be heterogeneous based on cultural differences and variations in models of care. Consecutive female IBD subjects aged 18-45 years were prospectively recruited from two dedicated IBD-pregnancy clinics, two multidisciplinary IBD clinics and nine general gastroenterology clinics. Subjects completed the validated CCPKnow [score 0-17] with questions on demographics, medical history and pregnancy knowledge. The primary outcome was knowledge per clinic-type and per geographical region. Surveys were completed by 717 subjects from 13 hospitals across ten countries. Dedicated IBD-pregnancy clinics had the highest knowledge, followed by multidisciplinary IBD clinics then general IBD clinics (median CCPKnow 10.0 [IQR: 8.0-11.0], 8.0 [IQR: 5.0-10.5] and 4.0 [IQR:2.0-6.0]; p < 0.001). Median CCPKnow scores in Western, Asian and Middle Eastern clinics were 9.0, 5.0 and 3.0 respectively [p < 0.001]. Dedicated IBD-pregnancy clinics, IBD support organization membership, childbearing after IBD diagnosis and employment independently predicted greater knowledge. Patient perception of disease severity [r = -0.18, p < 0.01] and consideration of VC [r = -0.89, p = 0.031] negatively correlated with CCPKnow score. The overall VC rate was 15.0% [95% CI: 12.2-18.2]. VC subjects had significantly lower pregnancy-specific IBD knowledge than non-VC subjects (median CCPKnow 4.0 [IQR: 2.0-6.0] and 6.0 [IQR: 3.0-9.0] respectively; p < 0.001). Pregnancy-specific IBD knowledge and dedicated IBD-pregnancy clinic attendance were significant negative predictors of VC. In this large international study we identified predictors of pregnancy-specific IBD knowledge. Dedicated IBD-pregnancy clinics had the greatest IBD-related pregnancy knowledge and lowest VC rates, reflecting the benefits of pre-conception counselling.

A237 SHARED DECISION MAKING: DESIGN OF A PREGNANCY IN IBD DECISION AID (PIDA)

Abstract Background Given a significant proportion of women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are of child-bearing age, the development of a pregnancy IBD decision aid would benefit patients and clinicians. Lack of IBD-specific reproductive knowledge has been associated with increased “voluntary childlessness” and may contribute to inappropriate medication changes during or after pregnancy. Decision aids support decision making in pregnancy in general, as well as in multiple other chronic diseases. However existing literature has not identified such a resource for women with IBD. Aims To develop a decision aid to improve decision making regarding preconception and pregnancy in IBD among women with IBD. Methods We followed the International Patient Decision Aids Standards (IPDAS). A steering committee of Canadian and Australian health care professionals with an interest in IBD management in pregnancy, in addition to patient representatives, was established. Themes chosen for discussion included inheritance, fertility, nutrition, medications, mode of delivery, breastfeeding, infant health. Initial patient and clinician focus groups were conducted and responses recorded with written/audio mediums. We developed an electronic PIDA draft that incorporates individualised information (type of IBD, pre-conception or pregnant, surgical history, medications) in personalized decision making. Further patient focus groups and interviews were conducted to obtain user opinion of the PIDA draft. Results In July 2017, patient and clinician focus groups were conducted at a Canadian site. Three patients (pre-conception) attended the focus group. Patient concerns - impact of disease and surgery on fertility and preterm delivery; impact of drug therapies on the fetus/ infant; impact of active disease on maternal and fetal/infant health. The clinician focus group included 3 IBD specialists, 2 IBD fellows, 2 IBD nurses, an obstetrician and a neonatal intensivist. Clinician concerns - absence of pre-conception counselling and lack of patient understanding about the impact of disease activity and IBD medication use in pregnancy. Additional patient feedback obtained through interviews (n=15) at two Canadian sites since March 2019 regarding the current electronic PIDA was positive, with comments about content, personalization, readability and unbiased presentation. Suggestions were made for inclusion of additional content such as impact of IBD on sexual function, laboratory changes during pregnancy, and timing of medications post-partum. Conclusions The pre and post PIDA design patient and clinician focus groups and interviews affirmed the role for PIDA. Main decisions considered necessary to address included ideal timing of conception pending disease activity, management of medications, and delivery methods. Ongoing user feedback will be obtained at Australian and Canadian sites during planned alpha testing. Funding Agencies WCHRI, Sinai Health System, UBC

Reproductive intentions in childless female adolescent and young adult cancer survivors

To examine the association between prior cancer treatments, medical comorbidities, and voluntary childlessness in reproductive-age women who are survivors of cancers diagnosed as adolescents and young adults (AYA survivors). Cross-sectional analysis. Participants were recruited from California and Texas cancer registries, fertility preservation programs, and cancer advocacy groups. Women (n = 413) ages 18-40 who were diagnosed with cancer between ages 15 and 35, completed primary cancer treatments, had at least one ovary, and were nulliparous. Cancer treatment gonadotoxicity and medical comorbidities. Voluntary childlessness. The mean age of survivors was 31.8 years (SD, 4.9) with a mean of 6.5 years (SD, 4.4) since cancer diagnosis. Breast (26%), thyroid (19%), and Hodgkin lymphoma (18%) were the most common cancers. Twenty-two percent of the cohort was voluntarily childless. Medical comorbidities, cancer diagnosis, prior surgery, prior chemotherapy, and prior gonadotoxic treatments were not significantly associated with voluntary childlessness. In adjusted analysis, survivors of older reproductive age (adjusted odds ratio = 2.97 [1.71-5.18]) and nonheterosexual participants (adjusted odds ratio = 4.71 [2.15-10.32]) were more likely to report voluntary childlessness. A moderate proportion of AYA cancer survivors are voluntarily childless, but reproductive intentions were not related to cancer type or cancer treatments. AYA survivors of older age and nonheterosexual identification were more likely to be voluntarily childless. These data support assessing reproductive intentions and tailoring reproductive care such as fertility and contraception counseling that is appropriate for a survivor's intentions.

Using PAR to frame sustainable transport and social justice on policy agendas. A pilot experience in two contrasting Chilean cities

If sustainable transport is defined by emissions and energy, urban passenger transport in Chile could be considered “sustainable”, with two-thirds of trips made by walking, cycling or public transit. Recent studies, however, reveal that gender and equity issues are highly problematic, pointing to tensions between environmental and social sustainability.Given these tensions, a university-community collaboration, the Laboratory for Social Change, developed a pilot methodology to define and evaluate Transport Justice. We sought a relatively simple instrument, a Transport Justice report (Balance de Transporte Justo, BTJ) that could combine experiential and academic knowledge and thereby influence policy and decision-making more effectively.We used a participatory action research (PAR) approach to bring together community leaders and university researchers, and consider experiential and research data, through this “transport justice” lens. To start, we introduced the idea of “transport justice” with researchers in different disciplines and citizen organizations involved in relatively specific battles: fighting a highway, for better cycling facilities, or for reduced road speeds, for example.We focused on established issues, such as universal access, walkability, cycle-inclusion, but added children's freedom and autonomy, the wise city (older adults, heritage, identity), care and land use, and transport impacts on ecological services. Building on this collaboration, we also applied a transport justice survey in two contrasting Chilean cities, Santiago and Temuco.Our analysis reveals that, despite a planning system that favours high-income households whose members rely mainly on cars, the majority of pedestrians, cyclists, public transit and even car users would prefer a redistribution of road space and investment in favour of active transport. During the next phase of research (2020–2021), we will test how well these results are taken up by citizen organizations, politicians and senior government staff from all parties. This will allow us to evaluate its effectiveness as a policy and power distributing instrument.

P563 Shared decision-making in pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease: Design of a pregnancy in IBD decision aid (PIDA)

Abstract Background A lack of IBD-specific reproductive knowledge has been associated with increased ‘voluntary childlessness’.Furthermore, a lack of patient and clinician knowledge may contribute to inappropriate medication changes during or after pregnancy that may lead to a flare of disease. Evidence exists for the benefit of decision aids to support decision-making in pregnancy in general, as well as in multiple other chronic disease; however, such a resource for pregnancy in IBD has not been identified. Methods Using International Patient Decision Aids Standards, we have commenced design of our Pregnancy in IBD Decision Aid (PIDA). A steering committee consisting of Canadian and Australian Healthcare professionals with an interest in IBD management in pregnancy, in addition to a patient representative was established. Initial patient and clinician focus groups were conducted. Themes prospectively chosen for discussion included inheritance, fertility, nutrition, medications, mode of delivery, breastfeeding, infant infections and vaccinations. We designed an electronic PIDA draft that incorporates individualised information (for example, type of IBD, pre-conception or pregnant, surgical history and current medications) in personalised decision-making. Further patient focus groups and interviews were conducted to obtain user opinion of the PIDA draft. Results In July 2017, patient and clinician focus groups were conducted at a Canadian site. Patient concerns regarding pregnancy included the impact of disease, previous surgical history on fertility, preterm delivery; the potential impact of current and past drug therapies on the fetus/ infant; and the negative impact of active disease on both maternal and fetal/infant health. Clinician concerns included the absence of pre-conception counselling and potential for lack of patient understanding about the impact of disease activity and IBD medication use in pregnancy. Patient feedback (n = 15) obtained through interviews at two Canadian and one Australian site regarding the current electronic PIDA draft was predominantly positive, with comments pertaining to the adequacy of content coverage, personalisation, readability and unbiased information presentation. Suggestions were made for inclusion of further content such as the impact of IBD on sexual function, expected laboratory changes and the timing of recommencement of medications post-partum. Conclusion The completion of pre and post-PIDA design focus groups and interviews affirmed the role for PIDA. Main decisions that were considered necessary to address included ideal timing of conception pending disease activity, management of medications and delivery methods. Ongoing user feedback is being obtained at Australian and Canadian sites currently.

Wolność religijna dziecka a władza rodzicielska

The purpose of this article is to analyze the child's right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion guaranteed by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in the background of the parental authority. This topic in Poland is ambiguous. Poland has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child with reservations and declarations. The declarations concerned on the rules on children's religious freedom. According to Poland, the exercise of these rights "is performed with respect for parental authority, in accordance with Polish customs and traditions, concerning the place of the child within and outside the family". Moreover, there is a certain gap between Polish Family Law and the provisions of the Convention. The Polish legislator places emphasis on the right of parents to raise children in accordance with their own beliefs, while the provisions of the Convention prioritize the child's autonomy. An additional problem in this matter is also the lack of detailed national regulations that would guarantee religious freedom for children, and also ensure the possibility of exercising these rights in practice. The legislator did not include any practical guidelines on how the child's religious freedom should be exercised and how to determine the moment when the child will be mature enough to take advantage of these guarantees. The basic research method that I used was the analysis of legal acts. I also relied on monographs and collective works devoted to family law. Due to the specific nature of the subject, Poland lacks case law of common courts on this subject.

Pregnancy and Motherhood Concerns Surrounding Women with Multiple Sclerosis: A Qualitative Content Analysis.

ABSTRACTBackground: There is a high prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) among Iranian women of reproductive age. However, very few studies have been conducted in Iran to assess the experiences with and concerns about pregnancy and motherhood of such patients. The present study was conducted to better understand the experiences and concerns of women with MS about pregnancy and motherhoodMethods: The present qualitative study was conducted from August 2016 to January 2017 among Iranian women with MS visiting the Iran MS Society in Tehran, Iran. The purposive sampling method was used to recruit the participants and the sampling was continued until data saturation. Based on the inclusion criteria, a total of 25 women with MS were recruited in the study. The data were collected by in-depth semi-structured face-to-face interviews and analyzed using the MAXQDA 10 softwareResults: The analysis of the interview data resulted in four main categories, namely “Pregnancy concerns”, “Fear of failing as a parent”, “Feeling of threatened fertility”, and “Lack of social support”. The results showed that Iranian women with MS avoided pregnancy due to the negative effects of the disease on their physical abilities and on life in general. They were also concerned about possible infertility, the effect of MS medications on their menstrual cycle, and the limitations of infertility treatments due to the presence of MS. These concerns led them to postpone pregnancy and lose time or opt for voluntary childlessness and consequently miss out on the experience of motherhoodConclusion: MS poses a serious challenge to women who consider getting pregnant and wish to experience motherhood. Health care professionals should support such patients to overcome their concerns and indecisiveness by providing appropriate information and counseling