Fertility Behavior Research Articles

Religion and Fertility Behavior Among Ever-Married Women in Nigeria: Evidence from the Nigeria Demographic Health Survey 2018

Using the 2018 Nigeria Demography and Health Survey (NDHS), this study was designed to examine the impact of religion on fertility behaviour. The theoretical basis of this study was Philip Jenkins’s Fertility and Faith hypothesis and the Religious Alloparenting hypothesis. The NDHS used a stratified sample that was chosen in two steps. First, a household listing operation was conducted in each of the chosen Enumeration Areas. Next, a fixed number of 30 households were chosen through equal probability systematic sampling in each cluster, yielding a total sample size of about 42,000 households. 42,121 women between the ages of 15 and 49 were found in the various houses, and individual interviews with 41,821 of them were later conducted. In this study, 8061 respondents were used in the analysis. Data gleaned from the NDHS was analyzed in this study, using descriptive statistics. The respondents’ religions were Catholic, other Christians, Islam and other religions. Catholic (9.4%), non-Catholic Christians (34.4%), Islam (55.5%), and other religions (0.7%). Islamic religion had low use of contraceptives i.e., 90.3% of no method, Catholics made more use of the traditional method of 12.5% than other religions. There was also a significant association between the use of contraceptives and religion. Muslim respondents got married below the age of 19 (77.3%), age 19 and 30 (22.1%) while Catholic got married below the age of 19 (34.2%), 19 and 30 (61.4%) Other Christians (36.7%) of its respondents below age 18, 19-30 (58.7%) and 31 and above (4.4%). Some of the recommendations made were to bring enlightenment to the public on the National Population Policy to guide or restrict the number of children by couples through religious leaders and also to make modern contraceptives acceptable by all religions.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the contraceptive use and fertility preferences and behaviors of married women in Turkey

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the contraceptive use and fertility preferences and behaviors of married women in Turkey

BODY IMAGE PERCEPTIONS AT CRITICAL AGE PERIODS: FOCUS ON WOMEN’S SELF-CONFIDENCE AND WELL-BEING

Body image is a crucial part of subjective experience in daily life. Most women are concerned with their body transformations due to pregnancy, delivery, breastfeeding, menopause, weight gain and obesity, serious gynecological and other diseases. Body image perceptions may influence women’s health, sexuality, fertility, and social behavior.
 Popularized images of slim models and celebrities adversely affect women’s perceptions of beauty and attractiveness. The difference between the perceived body image and desired silhouette may result in body image dissatisfaction. Outlook comparisons may influence the quality of life and result in anxiety, loss of confidence, and sexual ill-health.

Reproductive Health in Health Polices of Punjab Province: Gaps and Challenges

Pakistan has to place a strong emphasis on reproduction as part of an inclusive healthcare strategy that would improve the general health of its population. The aim of this paper is to analyze the health policies of the Punjab Province post-18th Amendment by focusing on the area of reproductive health. For this purpose, health policies were analyzed thematically. After reviewing and analyzing policies, we identified areas of concern about reproductive health care, including the lack of infrastructure and human resources and the lack of evidence-based health-related data and research to respond to or design need-based initiatives. Additionally, reproductive health seems to revolve around special issues and target communities by taking international commitments to the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals as a guideline (maternal and child health and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases). It is also found that significant donor funds are only related to family planning and maternal and child care services. These findings indicate that reproductive health measures regulate the fertility and sexual behavior of the target community, along with focusing more on maternal health, which somehow reveals the prevailing gender norms regarding roles in society. Reproductive health issues among men, transgender people, and non-parents are ignored. It is hoped that the identified gaps might be helpful in planning and ensuring access, quality, and equity in reproductive health services.

The Herbicide Glyphosate and Its Formulations Impact Animal Behavior across Taxa

Use of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides is ubiquitous in US agriculture and widespread around the world. Despite marketing efforts to the contrary, numerous studies demonstrate glyphosate toxicity to non-target organisms including animals, primarily focusing on mortality, carcinogenicity, renal toxicity, reproductive, and neurological toxicity, and the biochemical mechanisms underlying these physiological outcomes. Glyphosate toxicity also impacts animal behavior, both in model systems and in agricultural and environmentally relevant contexts. In this review, we examine the effects of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides on animal behaviors, particularly activity, foraging and feeding, anti-predator behavior, reproductive behaviors, learning and memory, and social behaviors. Glyphosate can be detected both in food and in the environment, and avoided through activity and feeding strategies. However, exposure also reduces activity, depresses foraging and feeding, increases susceptibility to predation, interferes with courtship, mating, fertility and maternal behaviors, decreases learning and memory capabilities, and disrupts social behaviors. Changes in animal behavior as a result of glyphosate toxicity are important because of their sometimes severe effects on individual fitness, as well as ecosystem health. Implications for human behavior are also considered.

Influencing Factors of Fertility Intention of Youth of Childbearing Age: Based on Social Ecosystem Theory

Population problem is always a comprehensive, long-term and strategic problem facing our country. In 2022, China's fertility rate fell to 6.77 per thousand, a historic low, the natural population growth rate has also entered the negative growth range. The fewer children and aging phenomenon of China's population is more prominent. To encourage fertility, increase the fertility rate and promote an appropriate level of fertility is a pressing task to actively respond to aging and promote long-term balanced population development. Youth are the future of the country, the hope of the nation, the main force of fertility, and the backbone of improving balanced population development. The fertility intention of youth determines the choice of fertility behavior of youth. To improve the fertility rate of youth and give full play to the role of youth as the main force for fertility, improving the fertility intention of youth is the key issue. From the perspective of social ecosystem theory, the paper attempts to comprehensively explore the role of multi-dimensional factors affecting youth’s fertility intention and put forward countermeasures and suggestions to improve fertility intention of the youth.

Release behavior of fertilizers and heavy metals from iron-loaded sludge biochar in the aqueous environment

In this study, the release behavior of fertilizers (NH4+-N, PO43− and K) and heavy metals (Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb and Cr) from iron-loaded sludge biochar (ISBC) was investigated to evaluated the feasibility and risks of ISBC as a slow release fertilizer. Their release capacity was significantly enhanced with decreasing initial pH, increasing solid-liquid ratio (RS-L) and rising temperature (p < 0.05). When the initial pH, RS-L and temperature were separately 5 (fertilizers)/1 (heavy metals), 1:5 and 298 K, the final concentrations of NH4+-N, PO43−, K, Mn, Zn and Ni were 6.60, 14.13, 149.4, 53.69, 72.56, and 1.01 mg L−1, while the maximum concentrations of Cu, Pb and Cr were 0.94, 0.77, and 0.22 mg L−1, respectively. Due to the tiny difference between the R2 values, revised pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetics models described their release behavior well, suggesting that physical and chemical interactions played an important role. Activation energies greater than 40 kJ mol−1 indicated that the rate-controlling steps of the release of NH4+-N, PO43− and Ni were chemical reactions, while chemical reactions and diffusion together determined the release rates of K, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cr because their activation energies were in the range of 20–40 kJ mol−1. The increasingly negative ΔG and positive ΔH and ΔS suggested that their release was a spontaneous (except Cr) and endothermic process with an increase of randomness between the solid-liquid interface. The release efficiency of NH4+-N, PO43− and K were in the ranges of 28.21%–53.97%, 2.09%–18.06% and 39.46%–66.14%, respectively. Meanwhile, the pollution index and evaluation index of heavy metals were in the ranges of 33.31–227.4 and 4.64–29.24, respectively. In summary, ISBC could be used as a slow-release fertilizer with low risk when the RS-L was less than 1:40.

Adolescent Parent–Child Relationships and Non-Marital Fertility in Adulthood: Variation by Race and Ethnicity

Factors leading to racial and ethnic differences in non-marital fertility, which account for nearly 41% of all births in the U.S., are not well understood. This study examines how mother–child relationships and parental control shape the likelihood of having a non-marital birth in adulthood among non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Asian women from 1994–2009. This paper uses data from Waves I, III, and IV of Add Health (n = 7171) and event-history analysis to find that mother–child relationships are associated with the likelihood of having a non-marital birth, with variation by race and ethnicity. Maternal warmth and communication in adolescence are associated with a decreased likelihood of having a non-marital birth in adulthood, but only among non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic Asian women. Parent–child relationships are dynamic and can have lasting impacts on children’s fertility behaviors across the life course.

Forecasting Total Fertility Rates For Urban And Rural Areas In Pakistan With A Coherent Functional Model.

To project total fertility rates for urban and rural areas in Pakistan up to 2027 with 80% prediction intervals. The secondary-data study was conducted from March 2020 to August 2020 at Data Bank in the Department of Statistics, University of Karachi, Pakistan, and comprised publicly available data of the Pakistan Demographic Survey from 1984 to 2007. Two statistical models, the functional time series model and the coherent functional model, were used to make the predictions about age-specific fertility rates. The forecasting performance of the models was compared through error measures. Data was analysed using R version 3.6.3. The predicted total fertility rate was 1.7 (80% prediction interval: 0.4-4.4) births per woman for urban areas and 2.2 (80% prediction interval: 0.6-5.3) births per woman for rural areas in 2027 using coherent functional model. The total fertility rate predicted by the functional time series model was 2.1 (80% prediction interval: 1.6- 2.6) births in urban areas and 2.7 (80% prediction interval: 1.7-4.1) births per woman in rural areas. The empirical comparison of forecast error measures obtained from the two models indicated that the coherent functional model performed better for forecasting total fertility rates for urban and rural areas in Pakistan. The projection of fertility rate obtained by the functional time series model and the coherent functional model described the future fertility behaviour of urban and rural populations.

Impact of Technical Training and Personalized Information Support on Farmers’ Fertilization Behavior: Evidence from China

Improving farmers’ fertilization behavior through technical training is conducive to reducing agricultural non-point source pollution and maintaining soil health. The existing studies mainly discuss the impact of technical training on the adoption of soil testing formula fertilization (STFF) from the perspective of judging the training effect, but there are few further answers to how to improve the effect of technical training. Based on the theory of planned behavior and training transfer, this study adopted a logit model and OLS model to explore the role of training in the adoption of STFF, as well as the moderation effect of personalized information support. An empirical test was carried out using the survey data of farmers in Zhejiang Province, China. The results showed that participating in technical training is beneficial for farmers in adopting STFF, and receiving personalized information support can strengthen the promotion effect of technical training on the adoption of STFF. Further analysis reveals that there are certain differences in the above relationships among farmers with different operating scales. The findings could facilitate a deeper understanding of the improvement of technical training performance and accumulation of rural human capital and could also provide a useful reference for the policy formulation to optimize farmers’ fertilization behavior and promote sustainable agricultural development.

Burden of maternal high-risk fertility behaviour on under-five children’s health status in Hadiya zone, Southern Ethiopia: a facility-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundMaternal high-risk fertility behaviours (HRFBs) are common in African countries and can potentially affect child survival. Evidence of the burden of maternal HRFB on under-five children is scant in Ethiopia.ObjectiveTo...

High-risk fertility behaviour and undernutrition among children under-five in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThe study examined high-risk fertility behaviour and its association with under-five undernutrition in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).DesignWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from 32 sub-Saharan African countries’ Demographic and Health...

Understanding fertility behavior of the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals in Bangladesh: A qualitative study.

Rohingya- the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN)- are largely characterized by a high total fertility rate (TFR) and a low contraceptive prevalence rate. This study aimed to explore the reasons behind their high fertility behavior by utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior. We adopted a cross-sectional qualitative research approach. Fifteen semi-structured, face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with the Rohingya husbands, wives, and community leaders (Majhi and Imam/Khatib) living in Camps 1 and 2 of Ukhiya Refugee Camp, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. We analyzed the qualitative data using the thematic analysis approach. The Muslim-majority FDMN predominantly constructed the fertility outcome as the will and order of Allah. On the one hand, the Rohingya parents highlighted various religious, political, economic, and social advantages of having more children, especially sons. On the other hand, beliefs about religious restriction, fear of side effects, and community pressure against contraception sustained the reality of the low contraceptive prevalence rate in the community. Alarmingly, the Rohingya religious leaders and mass people were found highly politically motivated to continue the practice of high fertility with a view to 'expanding the Rohingya community' or 'to increase Muslim soldiers', so that they may fight back and take control of their ancestors' place in Myanmar in the future. Furthermore, these pronatalist attitudes and beliefs translated into high TFR through various high-fertility-supportive social norms and practices widely prevalent in the Rohingya community. These include child marriage, gendered division of labor, women's subordinate nature, the Purdah system, and joint-family members' support during childbirth and rearing. Religion, ethnic identity, and the unique political context and experiences of the Rohingya people jointly explain their high fertility behavior. This study warrants the urgency of initiating social and behavior change communication programs to change the religiopolitically-motivated high-fertility notions that prevailed in the Rohingya community.

Determinants of Fertility Intentions of the Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina-An Example from the Semberija Region.

The aim of this paper was to analyze the socio-demographic determinants of fertility in Bosnia and Herzegovina that affect the number of live births in Semberija. The paper focuses on work and educational statuses, economic crisis and unemployment, and other relevant factors that affect desired family sizes and lead to negative demographic trends. The relevant data were collected through a survey questionnaire filled by a verified sample of 1000 women in their reproductive period (aged 15-49). In order to evaluate the role of each research variable in predicting fertility intentions, the arithmetic mean, frequency of responses in percentage, Pearson's coefficient, and a logistic regression model were used to explore the related factors of fertility behaviors among women in this population. The results showed that employment status, poor housing conditions, and financial support from the state statistically significantly impact future birth trends. Those socio-demographic factors affect desired family sizes and have proven essential to future fertile behavior.

Third-child fertility intention and its socioeconomic factors among women aged 20–34 years in China

BackgroundThe low birth rates and rapid population aging has drawn considerable attention from scholars and policymakers in China and around the world. In 2021, China launched the policy and supportive measures that allow up to 3 children per couple. This study aims to explore the influencing factors of the third-child fertility intention among women aged 20–34 years in China.MethodsWe draw data from the National Fertility Survey conducted in 2017. The nationally representative survey adopts a stratified, 3-stage, and probabilities proportional to size sampling method. A total of 61,588 valid samples aged 20–34 years old were obtained. Fertility desire and behavior, childbearing and service use, and potential influencing factors of fertility intention such as the history of pregnancy were assessed.ResultsIn general, 5.01% of Chinese women of prime childbearing age had fertility intention for a third child, and the proportion varies by region across mainland China. Individual characteristics such as being ethnic minorities, being rural residents, and having more siblings are significantly positively correlated with the third-child fertility intention, while the intention was significantly lower among women with a higher income or education level, migrant women, and those engaged in the non-agricultural labor force. Women who already had a son had lower fertility intention for a third child. Moreover, it was the perceived acceptable costs of childcare services rather than the actual costs that mattered more for the fertility intention.ConclusionsOur study concludes a series of socioeconomic factors, and previous childbearing and childrearing experiences are crucial for women’s fertility intention for a third child. These findings highlight the importance of launching supportive measures in addition to the introduction of the 3-child policy in promoting a fertility-friendly society.

Pensions and Fertility: Microeconomic Evidence

This study identifies the causal effect of pension generosity on women’s fertility behavior. It capitalizes on Brazil’s expansion of the pension system to rural workers, whose pension wealth subsequently more than tripled. Difference-in-difference, instrumental variable, and event study methods show that the pension reform reduces the propensity of childbearing of women of fertile age by 8 percent in the short run. Completed fertility declines by 1.3 children within 20 years after the reform, reducing the contribution base of the pay-as-you-go long run. The fertility response is strongest at higher birth parities, among older women, and among mothers with sons. (JEL H55, I38, J13, J16, O15)

The Status of Women in Terms of their Reproductive Capabilities: A Study of the Novel “The Collector’s Wife” by Mitra Phukan and “Rebirth” by Jahnavi Barua

This paper discusses the crucial role of women in the progress and development of a country and the challenges they face due to historical discrimination and unequal opportunities. The paper focuses on fertility behavior, which is influenced by various socio-economic and cultural factors, including women's status, economic dependency, and autonomy. Infertility is a serious issue that affects the lives of couples, especially women, who are at a higher risk of experiencing social stigma, emotional stress, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. The patriarchal society's bias towards men further complicates the status of infertile women, who are often subjected to ridicule, shame, and even domestic violence. This paper aims to analyze the novels "Rebirth" and "The Collector's Wife", which provide insight into the challenges faced by women in societies that prioritize motherhood and the pressure to produce offspring. The analysis of these stories can shed light on the cultural and societal norms that perpetuate the discrimination of women, especially those who struggle with infertility.

Labour Market Participation and Fertility in Seven European Countries: A Comparative Perspective

Although evidence suggests a correlation between fertility and employment, comparative studies on this topic are relatively scarce, particularly when considering the diverse ways in which the two variables interact in different countries. The aim of this article is to analyse the relationship between the employment and reproductive behaviours of women born between 1940 and 1979 in seven European countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Georgia, Italy, and Lithuania). Using data from the second wave of Generation and Gender Surveys (GGS) and the Istat survey Famiglia e Soggetti Sociali (FSS) in Italy, we estimated the propensity of first and second childbirth through multi-process modelling. The article’s contribution is both theoretical and methodological. First, this research aims to investigate the correlation between employment and the timing of first and second births in a comparative perspective challenging the traditional East-West divide in Europe and the potential convergence in the impact of employment on fertility behaviours across European countries. Furthermore, the study asks whether the relationship between employment and fertility is changing similarly across European countries or whether differences tend to persist over time.&#x0D; The results are discussed considering women’s emancipation in different institutional settings, highlighting how women’s participation in labour markets affects reproductive behaviour. In particular, the relationship between employment and fertility behaviour is examined in relation to the opposing macro-level thesis, which suggests that the association between employment and fertility changed from negative to positive after the mid-80s.&#x0D; The second contribution of the article is a methodological one. It involves using simultaneous models with three equations to account for potential unobserved factors that influence the timing of the first and second childbirth and the potential endogeneity of employment status on fertility behaviour. The three equations include two log-Hazard equations for the transitions to the first and second birth order and an additional probit model to estimate the probability of being currently employed over the life course. By using this approach, we aim to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between employment and fertility, while controlling for potential confounding factors.&#x0D; Results suggest relevant national differences. On the one hand, the three Western countries considered in the analysis, France, Germany, and Italy, show a clear incompatibility of work and childbearing. However, in the first two, younger cohorts seem to be less affected by employment, likely because they benefitted from family policies introduced after the mid-1980s. On the other hand, the post-socialist countries are highly heterogeneous. In this area, we can find three different models. First, in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic employment is largely compatible with fertility choices resulting in a higher propensity of having the first and the second childbirth among working women. Second, in Lithuania the positive impact of employment for the first childbirth turns negative for the second one. Third, in Georgia we found a clear postponement of childbirth among working women for both birth orders. Overall, our results show deep differences across countries, suggesting that some European countries are far from demonstrating convergence in the relationship between employment and fertility.

The association between childbirth-related fear, childbirth readiness, and fertility intentions, and childbirth readiness as the mediator

BackgroundFertility intentions have been proved to be a reliable predictor of actual fertility behaviour. Also, childbirth-related fear (CBRF) has been proven to be negatively associated with childbirth readiness and fertility intentions among women, while childbirth readiness was positively related to fertility intentions. However, the associations and potential mechanisms between CBRF, childbirth readiness, and fertility intentions remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the unique association between CBRF, childbirth readiness, and fertility intentions and whether childbirth readiness would mediate the relationship between CBRF and fertility intentions.MethodA cross-sectional study of women (N = 1119, aged 16–53 years) who gave birth within 72 h was conducted. Using a convenience sampling, women were recruited from obstetric wards—10 comprehensive hospitals and 3 specialized hospitals in 7 provinces in mainland China. Pearson correlation was used to examine the relationship between CBRF, childbirth readiness, fertility intentions, and social support. Multivariate linear regression was further used to analyze the association between demographic and personal characteristics, CBRF, childbirth readiness, and fertility intentions. Mediation analysis was used to examine whether childbirth readiness mediates the relationship between CBRF and fertility intentions.ResultsWomen with high childbirth readiness (β = 0.09, P = 0.002) had higher fertility intentions. However, women with high CBRF (β = − 0.17, P < 0.001) were more likely to have lower fertility intentions. CBRF had both direct and indirect effects on the level of fertility intentions. As predicted, childbirth readiness mediated the relationship between CBRF and the level of fertility intentions (estimate = − 0.012, 95% bootstrap CI: − 0.021 to − 0.005). Higher CBRF was associated with lower scores of childbirth readiness, which was associated with lower levels of fertility intentions.ConclusionsThis study established the evidence that CBRF had both direct and indirect effects on the level of fertility intentions and childbirth readiness mediated the relationship between CBRF and the level of fertility intentions. Specifically, higher CBRF was associated with lower scores of childbirth readiness, which was associated with lower levels of fertility intentions. This finding suggested that it is important for health policymakers and health providers to pay more attention to improving women’s childbirth readiness, which might reduce the negative influence of CBRF on fertility intentions, thus strengthening their fertility intentions.

Explaining Residential Clustering of Large Families

Numerous studies have shown that fertility behavior is spatially clustered. In addition to pure contextual effects, two causal mechanisms could drive this pattern. First, neighbors may influence each other's fertility and second, family size may influence decisions about where to live. In this study we examine these two potential causal mechanisms empirically, using the sex composition of the two eldest children and twin births as instrumental variables (IVs) for having a third child. We estimate how having a third child affects three separate outcomes: the fertility of neighbors; the propensity to move houses; and the likelihood of living in a family-friendly neighborhood with many children. We draw residential and childbearing histories (2000–2018) from Norwegian administrative registers (N ~ 167,000 women). Individuals' neighborhoods are defined using time-varying geocoordinates for place of residence. We identify selective moves as one plausible causal driver of residential clustering of large families. This study contributes to the understanding of fertility and relocation, and to the literature on the social interaction effects of fertility, by testing the relevance of yet another network: that of neighbors.