Fertility Expectations Research Articles

Ideals and realities: Chinese singleton daughters negotiating family size preferences and migrant motherhood in Spain

ABSTRACT Chinese young women’s fertility choices have attracted growing interest in the last years, however, the effects of women’s singleton status and transnational motherhood experience on their fertility behaviours remain understudied. Using 12 qualitative interviews with Chinese migrant mothers in Spain, we firstly examine how women’s family size preferences are constructed by their singleton status associated with changing gender norms and strong normative expectations of future family caregiving obligations; secondly, we explore the challenges faced by participants towards realizing their fertility expectations in transnational spaces from a gendered perspective. We find that although singleton status can contribute to women’s larger ideal family size, their gendered roles as only-daughters and migrant mothers increase care responsibilities, which negatively influence their childbearing decisions. By situating singleton daughters’ experiences within a broader institutional and sociocultural context, our study offers a unique opportunity to examine how changing gender norms, care, and responsibility structure fertility norms of one generation at the micro level.

In the era of declining population: the impact of online baby video clips on the fertility expectations of Chinese childless youth

In the era of declining population: the impact of online baby video clips on the fertility expectations of Chinese childless youth

Women’s Work Characteristics and Fertility Expectations

Previous research has shown that employment is an important social context affecting fertility, yet relatively little is known about the extent to which work characteristics affect fertility expectations. Using over 25 years of data from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, we analyzed the associations between part-time work and characteristics associated with autonomy over working time, specifically self-employment and managerial/professional occupation, and childbearing expectations among women ages 18–45 (N = 4,415). Logistic regression models for longitudinal data reveal that work characteristics are significantly associated with fertility expectations, but that the specific nature of the relationship varies by parity. Among women with one child, those working part-time had predicted probabilities of expecting to have additional children that were 2% higher than those working full-time. In contrast, among women without any children, those working part-time had predicted probabilities that were 2% lower than those working full-time. Similar contrasting relationships by parity were found when comparing self-employed women to employees and managers/professionals to those in other occupations. Findings were consistent across racial and ethnic groups. These results suggest that different mechanisms link work characteristics to fertility plans for mothers and non-mothers, specifically that role incompatibility and work-family conflict are more salient for mothers but that financial strain is so for non-mothers.

Arabic Chicken from Marriage with Artificial Insemination (IB) Using a Manual Hatching Machine On Fertility And Hatchability

Arab Chicken Marriage with Artificial Insemination (IB) Using Manual Incubator on Fertility and Hatchability. This study aims to determine the level of fertility and hatchability of Arabic chicken mating with artificial insemination in a manual incubator. This research was carried out at Mr. Saiful Karang Rejo's farm, Tulung Agung, from September 15 to October 15, 2022. The number of eggs used were 72 eggs from Arab chicken mating with a male to female ratio of 50: 500. The chickens are housed individually, the feed given is a mixture of corn, bran, and concentrate. IB is carried out 3 times a week, semen collection is carried out by massage (sequence) and accommodated in a glass then IB is carried out on Arab females. Using Chi Square analysis, then followed by a contingency test (a condition filled with uncertainty between fertile or not, the effect of fertility expectations) , Correlation (the relationship between two variables that are quantitative) and Regression (influence between 2 or more variables). The parameters observed included fertility and egg hatchability. From the results of the study, the following conclusions were obtained: the highest percentage of fertility was obtained in stages 1 and 2 with a value of 73.61%, while the lowest percentage was at stage 3 with a value of 66.66%. Meanwhile, the highest hatchability percentage was at stage 1 with a value of 83.01%, and the lowest percentage was at stage 3 with a value of 79.16%. Cleanliness in the chicken semen reservoir and egg selection, such as the cleanliness of egg shells, eggs that are too small or too large need to be considered. The temperature and humidity of the incubator must be constant to avoid embryo death and hatching failure.

Radiotherapy, Female Fertility and Ootoxicity

Fertility is an important component of quality of life and oncological patients should be questioned about their expectations before treatment. Radiotherapy (RT) can adversely affect fertility irreversibly and progressively. Therefore, patients with expectation of fertility should be evaluated before RT and guided for appropriate interventions. Radiotherapy negatively affects fertility in many aspects. Cranial RT disrupts the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian (H-P-O) axis, pelvic RT directly affects the ovary and uterus. Because of the long latent period of endocrinopathies caused by cranial RT, these patients should be followed up for a long time. Due to dose-dependent uterine and ovarian toxicities that develop after abdominopelvic RT, patients are at high risk for infertility and pregnancy complications. Uterus and ovaries have different radiosensitivity depending on age. With aging, radiosensitivity of the uterus decreases, while radiosensitivity of the ovaries increase. Although there is no consensus on the threshold doses that can cause RT-related infertility, according to current data, the threshold value for the hypothalamo-pituitary axis is 30 Gy; 25 Gy for young women and 45 Gy for adult women for the uterus; 10 Gy for acute ovarian failure in the ovary and 25 Gy for premature ovarian failure under 35 years of age. There is no significant relationship between parental radiation exposure and inherited genetic disease in their infants.

Remaining childless: examining the different patterns of expectations that lead to a childless life for men

Early life fertility expectations fail to explain why a substantial proportion of men remain childless. To understand which roads lead to childlessness, it is important to investigate the patterning of fertility expectations across men’s life courses. Therefore, the current study focuses on pathways into childlessness for men, by differentiating groups based on whether, and if so when, changes in fertility expectations occurred. In addition, we examine how these patterns of fertility expectations were linked to men’s labour force participation (LFP) and marital relationships. We use data from the American National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and applied sequence, clustering, and multinomial logistic regression methods to analyze stability and change in childless men’s life course between the ages of 22 and 47 (N = 679). Based on their patterns of fertility expectations, we identified four groups of childless men. (1) Early switchers (29%), (2) mid-thirty switchers (29%), (3) late or never switchers (25%), and men with unstable expectations (18%). Early switchers often got married early, while late or never switchers were more likely those who got married at a later age. In contrast, interrupted LFP was only weakly related to patterns of fertility expectations. Our longitudinal focus revealed, firstly, that different roads of fertility expectations lead to childlessness for men. Second, changes in men’s partnership status often precede changes in their fertility expectations. This study is the first to use a prospective design to investigate childless men’s complete reproductive history, revealing that different trajectories of fertility expectations lead to childlessness.

A brief report on the COVID‐19 pandemic and ideal family size in the United States

AbstractObjectiveThis brief report explores whether the COVID‐19 Pandemic impacted ideal family size in the United States.BackgroundAlthough COVID‐19 negatively impacted short‐term fertility expectations, preferences, and behaviors in the United States, it remains unknown whether the pandemic contributed to changes in family size ideals more broadly.MethodThe sample consists of 1823 respondents from the General Social Survey (GSS) who were originally interviewed before the COVID‐19 pandemic (in 2016 and 2018) and were re‐interviewed in the first 6 months of the COVID‐19 pandemic (in August/September 2020), a period when pandemic‐related stress and uncertainty was particularly pronounced. A within‐person fixed effects approach is utilized.ResultsFindings from within‐person fixed effects analyses suggested that the pandemic had no impact on the quantum of ideal family size responses. These findings were robust to alternative specifications and were similar to what was observed in a parallel analysis of how the Great Recession impacted ideal family size.ConclusionFindings pointed to stability in ideal family size in the first 6 months of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the US.ImplicationsFuture work should explore the disjuncture between short‐term fertility intentions and behaviors and longer‐term family size ideals.

PARTIAL ANDROGEN INSENSITIVITY SYNDROME IN A PATIENT REARED AS FEMALE WITH AMBIGUOUS GENITALIA: A CASE REPORT AND MINI-REVIEW

Partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS) or Reifenstein Syndrome is a rare disorder. This disorder has a clinical feature that varies depending on the level of mutation of the androgen receptor gene. An understanding of psychosexual development, genital appearance, and fertility expectations of patients is a consideration for further treatment. PAIS generally present with the chief complaint of ambiguous genitalia, small penis, hypospadias, undescended testicles, or cryptorchidism. A twenty-seven-year-old patient presented in the Andrology Outpatient Department with the complaint of wanting to confirm his genitalia. The patient's father and mother are not related. His parents saw the external genitalia as a female and were raised as female. Meanwhile, entering the age of 17 years, the patient realized that a structure like a penis shaft began to appear in the genital area. From a psychological perspective, it is necessary to consider counseling and assistance for one year so that patients can make decisions. This case report concludes that PAIS management requires multidisciplinary cooperation by considering the patient's physical, psychosexual and fertility development.

Personal Saving, Household Income, and Fertility Expectation

대한민국은 최근 수년간 합계출산율이 1보다 낮게 하락중이고, 전 세계에서 합계출산율이 가장 낮은 등 심각한 저출산 문제에 직면해 있다. 이 연구에서는 청년패널조사 10, 11, 12, 및 13차원자료를 사용하여 한국 청년의 희망 자녀수가 가구소득 및 개인저축과 어떻게 연관되는지 분석한다. 누락변수 편의문제를 최소화하기 위해 패널 고정효과 모형으로 분석을 수행했다. 분석 결과에 따르면 청년 개인의 희망 자녀수는 개인저축과 정의 관계를 보였으나, 이러한 관계는 결혼 후에는 사라졌다. 희망 자녀수와 가구 소득의 관계는 부의 관계로 나타났으나, 추정계수의 값이 작고 표준오차가 커서 전반적으로 불분명했다. 가구 소득과 희망 자녀수의 관계 역시 결혼 후에는 사라졌다. 이와 같은 분석 결과는 한국 사회에서 결혼과 자녀출산의 결정에는 결혼 전 충분한 저축을 통한 자산축적이 중요함을 시사한다. 이러한 효과는 남성과 여성 모두에게 공통으로 나타났다. 본 연구결과는 한국이 당면한 저출산 문제 해결을 위한 정책 설계에 유용한 정보를 제공할 뿐만 아니라 자녀출산 수요에 대해 분석하는 경제학 연구문헌과 희망 자녀수 등 출산의향의 결정요인에 대해 살펴보는 인구학 연구문헌을 한국의 사례를 이용한 새로운 분석결과를 제시하여 확장하는 의의를 갖는다.

Освещение семейно-демографической политики в СМИ: результаты всероссийского исследования

Introduction. In the Russian Federation, the relevance of research on the demographic indicators and the effectiveness of public administration in their regulation. Demographic problems include a set of tasks that need to be solved to ensure the growth of fertility and life expectancy, reduce mortality, and regulate migration. This study discusses a part of demographic policy, namely the instruments of the state family and demographic policy aimed at “saving the people of Russia and developing human potential”, which, in accordance with the National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation, are the priority of the country’s national interest. The purpose of this work is to identify the context of communication between the government and society in the process of covering the demographic situation and public administration in the field of family and demographic policy by the Russian media. Methods and Materials. The research methodology is based on theories that reveal the relationship between political management and political communication (S. Ball-Rokeach and M. DeFleur, G. Lasswell, J. Habermas, G. Esping Andersen, S. Volodenkov, M. Grachev, A. Solovyov, etc.). The research method is content analysis of regional Russian media, the sample consists of 9011 articles. Analysis. In the process of content analysis, the following tools of public administration were evaluated: communication and the construction of a discourse on the implementation and results of family and demographic policy in the Russian media. Family and demographic policy are parts of social policy and can be quite effective (for example, the “One-child policy” of China), but the use of technologies to manipulate public opinion in the process of implementing family and demographic policy carries significant risks. Results. The content analysis revealed how family and demographic policy is covered in the media, which of the three communication purposes of the authorities and society (information, dialogue or manipulation) is the basic one. Content analysis allowed us to answer the question: are technologies of manipulation of public opinion used to increase the birth rate in the Russian Federation? It is revealed that these technologies are not used in the analyzed media, there is no persistent repetition of characteristic phrases. The data obtained in the process of content analysis made it possible to describe the communicative practices used in the studied media, to conclude whether the communicative practices correspond to the goals of political management in the field of family and demographic policy. Authors’ contribution. T. Rostovskaya built a theoretical scheme for the study of the context of communication between the government and society, carried out a guide for collecting material by regions of the Russian Federation. E. Vasilieva developed a research methodology, processed the data obtained. The co-authors jointly analyzed the data and interpreted the results.

Empowerment and use of modern contraceptive methods among married women in Burkina Faso: a multilevel analysis

BackgroundIn Burkina Faso, gender inequality prevents women from meeting their reproductive needs, leading to high rates of unintended pregnancies, abortions and deaths. Evidence shows that empowering women may increase the proportion of demand for family planning satisfied using modern methods (mDFPS), but few studies have measured this process in multiple spheres of life. We investigated how empowerment influences the mDFPS among married women of reproductive age (MWRA) in Burkina Faso.MethodsWe analyzed data from the 2010 Burkina Faso Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) on 4714 MWRA with reproductive needs living in 573 communities. We used principal component analysis (PCA) and Cronbach’s alpha test to explore and assess specific and consistently relevant components of women’s agency in marital relationships. Aggregated measures at the cluster level were used to assess gender norms and relationships in communities. Descriptive statistics were performed and multilevel logistic regression models were carried out to concurrently gauge the effects of women’s agency and community-level of gender equality on mDFPS, controlling for socioeconomic factors.ResultsOverall, less than one-third (30.8%) of the demand for family planning among MWRA were satisfied with modern methods. Participation in household decision-making, freedom in accessing healthcare, and opposition to domestic violence were underlying components of women’s agency in marital relationships. In the full model adjusted for socioeconomic status, freedom in accessing healthcare was significantly (aOR 1.27, CI 1.06–1.51) associated with mDFPS. For community-level variables, women’s greater access to assets (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.13–2.61) and family planning messages (aOR 2.68, 95% CI 1.64–4.36) increased mDFPS, while higher fertility expectations (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.64–0.87) reduced it. Unexpectedly, women in communities with higher rates of female genital mutilation were more likely (aOR 2.46, 95% CI 1.52–3.99) to have mDFPS.ConclusionsEmpowering women has the potential to reduce gender inequality, raise women’s agency and increase mDFPS. This influence may occur through both balanced marital relationships and fair community gender norms and relationships. Progress toward universal access to reproductive services should integrate the promotion of women’s rights.Trial registrationNo clinical trial has been performed in this study.

The role of motherhood schemas and life transitions in reproductive intention formation

ABSTRACT Objective This study provides a theory-based snapshot of the processes involved in women’s fertility intention formation and decisions regarding the timing of motherhood. Background The trend to defer childbearing is linked with both empowering and challenging outcomes for women. The cognitive-social (C-S) model suggests that deliberative thinking regarding reproduction occurs following fertility-relevant life transitions, which results in fluctuations in motherhood schemas and fertility intentions. This framework was applied to explore fertility intention formation. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve women who either had children or desired children. Results Two overarching themes central to the C-S model are discussed: (a) passive expectations and (b) deliberative intentions. Women’s motherhood schemas were often underpinned by schematic structures (e.g. group norms and scripts) and material structures (e.g. observational influences). Life transitions and personal experiences tended to prompt deliberative thinking about motherhood plans. Conclusion The results were generally consistent with the C-S model, but highlight complexities to consider when investigating fertility expectations and intentions.

Examination of clinical data and semen analysis results of patients undergoing orchiectomy for testicular tumor.

Testicular tumor constitutes 1% of male neoplasms. Infertility can be determined in patients with testicular tumors before orchiectomy due to the deterioration of spermatogenesis. The aim of this study was to show the clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics and spermiogram results of patients with testicular tumor and their relationship with each other. The data of patients who underwent orchiectomy due to testicular tumor between 2016 and 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. These data included sociodemographic data of the patients, pretreatment spermiogram characteristics, level of serum tumor markers, characteristics of the ultrasonography, type of orchiectomy, and histopathological examination. This study included 53 male patients, with a mean age of 33.51±12.86 years. The mean levels of all tumor markers were above the reference levels. The mean tumor size was 34.68±23.32 mm. Multiple localizations and microlithiasis were detected in 11.3 and 13.2% of the tumors, respectively. The most common masses were hypoechoic (n=37; 69.8%) and hypervascular (n=47; 81%). Spermiogram and cryopreservation were performed in 29 (54.7%) of 53 patients preoperatively. The mean sperm concentration before orchiectomy was 24.21×106 /mL and group A sperm motility 0.79%, group B sperm motility 39.10%, group C sperm motility 9.83%, and group D sperm motility 22.69% in testicular tumors. Spermatogenesis adversely affected before the treatment due to local and systemic effects of testicular cancer. Fertility expectations can be increased in the subsequent years by semen analysis and referral to cryopreservation.

Will Women Catch Up to Their Fertility Expectations?

In 2019, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) dipped to 1.71 children per woman, an all-time low and far below the replacement rate of 2.10 children. Current levels of low fertility have important implications for the economy. To assess fertility trends, demographers often look at fertility expectations. Using this metric suggests no cause for concern. Women in their early 30s today, when first asked about their childbearing expectations in their early 20s, expected to have more than two children, similar to previous cohorts. But today’s 30-year-olds are much further from their 20-24 expectations than previous cohorts. And a number of trends have emerged in recent years that could suggest lower fertility. This project aims to shed light on whether women are likely to catch up to their fertility expectations and what factors influence their ability to do so. The analysis uses a regression framework to examine factors that drive fertility after age 30 for an older cohort of women surveyed in the NLSY79. The results are then used to predict the completed fertility for the younger cohort of women surveyed in the NLSY97, who are in their early- to mid-30s and still in their childbearing years. The paper found that: • Fertility expectations are the primary driver of achieved fertility for non-college graduates. • For college-educated women, other factors such as religion, marital status, and career length affect whether they achieve their fertility expectations. • Women in the NLSY97 (born in 1980-1984) are projected to have a total of 1.96 children. • This means that the gap between childbearing expectations in their early 20s and completed fertility will increase to 0.48, much higher than historical averages of 0.30. The policy implications of the findings are: • While the results seem to suggest that the current 1.71 TFR is capturing tempo effects from delayed childbearing, long-run fertility may be lower than 1.96 for several reasons. • The results are based on the 1980-1984 cohort, but younger cohorts may have fewer children because they have lower fertility expectations and face more economic uncertainty. • The gap might also grow since COVID-19 is likely to place downward pressure on fertility, both for the cohort studied and for younger women. • Therefore, while the current 1.71 TFR may reflect delayed fertility, actual completed fertility, especially for younger cohorts, might be lower than 1.96.

Spousal age difference and its effect on contraceptive use among sexually active couples in Ethiopia: evidence from the 2016 Ethiopia demographic and health survey

BackgroundAge difference among spouses can be considered as an indicator of the nature of the marital bond, and influences the couple’s fertility expectations. The age difference is one of the features of the traditional African marriage system. However, the likelihood that women use of contraceptives and spousal age differences is not well studied. Thus, this study was to examine the spousal age difference on contraceptive use.ObjectiveThis study was aimed to examine spousal age differences and its effect on contraceptive use among sexually active couples in Ethiopia.MethodsThe related variables for this study were extracted from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2016 data. IBM SPSS statistics version 20 software was used for analysis. Logistic regression was conducted to see the association between spousal age difference and contraceptive use. All analyses were adjusted for sample weights.ResultsOut of the 7268 selected women for contraceptive usage questions, one fourth (25.3%) of them were between ages 25 and 29 and in almost all 7061 (98.4%) of them there was spousal age differences, 1555 (21.4%) of them were from poor socioeconomic group. Nearly all 7184 (98.8%) of them knew contraceptive method. However, among those sexually active in the last 4 weeks only two in five (41.2%) were using a contraceptive method.Spousal age difference was found to be significant factor and women older than their spouses were (AOR: 1.771, 95%CI: 1.276, 2.459) more likely and women having spouse’s age difference greater than 10 years were 1.2% (AOR: .988, 95%CI: .848, 1.150) less likely to use contraception compared to those age difference is ten or less than years respectively.Also, women who were living in urban areas (AOR: 1.482, 95%CI: 1.161 to 1.890), current working status (AOR: 1.170; 95%CI: 1.033 to 1.325), from richest economic category (AOR: 2.560; 95%CI: 2.000 to 3.278) husband’s education, couples’ fertility preference (AOR: 1.233; 95%CI: 1.070 to 1.420) were contraception use predictors. Similarly, being Muslim by religion (AOR: .579 95%CI: 0.496 to 0.675) and husband based decision for their health care use were (AOR: .847, CI: .729 to .985) less likely to use contraception.Conclusion and recommendationThis study found association between spousal age differences and contraceptive use. Similarly, women’s age, age difference, place of residence, religion, current working status, socioeconomic, husband’s education, living children and current pregnancy, the couples’ fertility preference and who decides on health care use were found to be predictors of contraceptive use. Strengthening strategies for improving women’s educational status, socio-economic and demographic that will help to limit the age differences and improve contraceptive use. Further study, including qualitative is recommended to dig out the why components and better understand this finding.

Variation in Self-Perceived Fecundity among Young Adult U.S. Women.

Individuals' perceptions of their fecundity, or biological ability to bear children, have important implications for health behaviors, including infertility help-seeking and contraceptive use. Little research has examined these perceptions among U.S. women. This cross-sectional study examines perceptions of one's own fecundity among U.S. women aged 24 to 32 who participated in the 2009-2011 rounds of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (1997) cohort. Analyses were limited to 3,088 women who indicated that they or their partners never received a doctor's diagnosis regarding fertility difficulties. Of the women in the sample, 67% perceived their hypothetical chances of becoming pregnant as very likely; the remainder perceived their chances as somewhat likely (13%), not as likely (15%), or provided a "don't know" response (6%). Twenty-six percent of Black women and 19% of Latina women perceived themselves as not very likely to become pregnant, compared with only 12% among non-Black/non-Latina women (p<.001). Only 6% of women with a college degree perceived their chances of becoming pregnant as not very likely, compared with 36% among women without a high school degree (p<.001). Racial/ethnic and educational differences persisted in fully adjusted models. Other factors associated with fecundity self-perceptions include partnership status, parity, fertility expectations, sexual activity, prolonged exposure to unprotected intercourse for at least 6 and/or 12 months without becoming pregnant, and self-rated health. Findings indicate that self-perceived fecundity differs systematically by demographic and other characteristics. This phenomenon should be investigated further to understand how it may influence disparities in health behaviors and outcomes.

An Extension of Rushton's Theory of Race Differences in [i]r[/i]-K Life History Strategy to Australian Aborigines

Rushton's theory of race differences in r-K life history strategy is extended to Australian Aborigines. Outcomes related to the life cycle, such as fertility, infant mortality and life expectancy, are examined, as well as problem behaviors and sexually transmitted diseases. Results show that on most of these measures, differences between European-origin Australians and Australian Aborigines are larger than those between blacks and whites in the United States. In Rushton’s theoretical framework, this indicates that Australian Aborigines are higher r and lower K than Negroids.

Pre- and Postoperative Evaluation of Operated Myoma Uteri Patients: a 5-Year Tertiary Care Experience

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate the pre- and postoperative outcomes of myomas operated in a tertiary clinic.&#x0D; Method: We retrospectively evaluated data from a total of 378 cases operated for myomas between January 2014 and December 2018 in the Dicle University Medical Faculty Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic. &#x0D; Results: There were 169 cases of abdominal myomectomy (44.7%), 156 cases of total abdominal hysterectomy (41.3%), 15 cases of laparoscopic myomectomy (4%), 13 cases of total laparoscopic hysterectomy (3.4%), 12 cases of myomectomy during cesarean delivery (3.2%), 9 cases of hysteroscopic myomectomy (2.4%), and 4 cases of vaginal myomectomy (1.1%). Pathology results revealed 341 cases of leiomyoma (88.2%), 32 cases of concomitant leiomyoma and adenomyosis (8.4%), and 13 cases of STUMP (3.3%). There were 5 cases of intraoperative bowel injury, 1 case of bladder injury, and 1 case of postoperative wound infection.&#x0D; Conclusion: Myomas can be surgically treated with satisfactory outcomes and low complication rates. The preferred surgical treatment will majorly depend on the patient's fertility expectations.

Childbearing Intention and its Associated Factors among Adolescent Girls: A Narrative Review.

Background:Childbearing is an important phenomenon among adolescents. Studies that have evaluated teenagers’ reproductive patterns have found that many adolescents are ambivalent regarding sexual activity and childbearing. In order to assess the patterns of adolescents’ reproductive health and pregnancy to conduct interventions, every country needs to collect specific data about childbearing intentions. This study was conducted to determine the factors that may affect the childbearing intentions of adolescents.Materials and Methods:This article was a narrative review. Articles derived from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from January of 2000 to February 2015 were assessed. Moreover, gray literature, such as conference abstracts, theses, and the result of technical reports were also used.Results:In total, 15 studies were included in the review. The findings of this study showed that childbearing motives are affected by several factors. According to the results of the qualitative studies, some of the most important effective factors were women's decision-making power and financial issues. In this regard, the quantitative studies noted that the cultural and economic factors were more effective than other factors in determining the childbearing motives of adolescents.Conclusions:Fertility expectations are affected by several factors and are compatible with a variety of conditions. Moreover, access to precise information on the effects of each factor (positive or negative) is necessary and useful for demographers, policymakers, and other planners in any community.

Expectations about Fertility and Field of Study among Adolescents: A Case of Self-selection?

In recent studies on the association between education and fertility, increased attention has been paid to the field of study. Women who studied in traditionally more “feminine” fields, like care, teaching, and health, were found to have their children earlier and to have more children than other women. A point of debate in this literature is on the causal direction of this relationship. Does the field of study change the attitudes towards family formation, or do young adults with stronger family-life attitudes self-select into educational fields that emphasize care, teaching, and health? Or do both field of study preferences and family-life attitudes arise before actual choices in these domains are made?We contribute to this debate by examining the relationship between fertility expectations and expected fields of study and occupation among 14-17 year-old adolescents. We use data collected in 2005 from 1500 Dutch adolescents and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to examine the associations between expected field of study and occupation and fertility expectations. Our results show that expectations concerning fertility and field of study are already interrelated during secondary education. Both female and male adolescents who expect to pursue studies in fields that focus on care and social interaction (like health care, teaching etc.) are less likely to expect to remain childless. This holds equally for girls and boys. In addition, girls who more strongly aspire to an occupation in which communication skills are important also expect to have more children. We did not find any relationship between expectations of pursuing a communicative field of study and occupation and expectations of earlier parenthood.In addition, among boys, we find that the greater their expectation of opting for an economics, a technical, or a communicative field of study, the less likely they were to expect to remain childless. Boys who expected to study in the economic field also expect to have their first child earlier, but boys expecting to pursue a technical course of studies expect to enter parenthood later. We also found that those who expect to pursue cultural studies are more likely to have a preference for no children, or if they do want children, to have them later in life.Overall, our findings suggest that the processes of elective affinity between the communicative fields of study and work on the one hand and fertility on the other hand are more or less comparable for boys and girls. With respect to the other domains, we find, apart from the gender differences in the relation between fields of study and childlessness, hardly or no gender differences in the expected timing of parenthood and the number of children. The genders do differ in their level of preference for communicative and economics-related fields of study and occupation, but if they do have the same preference, the association with fertility expectations is more or less similar.