The fertilizing intention of married childless women and its influencing factors -----a cross-sectional study in China after Two-child policy

Abstract

Abstract Background: To investigate the fertilizing intention of these married childless women and the its influencing factors. Methods: Married women of childbearing age (20-49 years old) who had been married and without biological child for more than 1 years (Married Childless Women, MCW) in Zhejiang, China were recruited and face-to-face interviewed for their fertilizing intention and possible influencing factors. Unconditional Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the associations between potential influencing factors and fertilizing intention. Results: Overall, 22.14% of study population were not willing to have child. Furthermore, approximately 40% of these “married childless women with fertilizing intention” wished to have only one child in their lives. Fertilizing intention rate of MCWs went up first before the age of 35, then it decreased dramatically with increasing age. Influencing factors of MCWs’ fertilizing intention included age, duration of marriage (OR: 1.1; 95% CI: 1.08-1.13), more marriages (OR: 1.4; 95% CI:1.06-1.84), residential location (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.65-0.90), education level (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.04-1.22), pregnant history (OR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.28-0.65) abnormal menstrual blood volume (either heavy(OR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.66-0.98), light(OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.51-0.84), appropriate age of birth considered by MCW (OR: 1.13; 95% CI 0.94-1.35) and appropriate age of marriage considered by MCW (OR: 1.32; 95% CI: 0.92-1.93). Women with higher education level (OR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.05-1.53), Coming from rural area (OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.07-1.43), and having an irregular menstruation (OR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.15-1.56) tend to want more children when compared with the reference group. Conclusion: After the implementation of “Two Child Policy”, the fertilizing intention rate of married childless women in Zhejiang, China was 77.86%. Of the cohort of married childless women who expressed a desire to conceive, almost 40% indicated a preference for having a single child. The influencing factors that affect the fertilizing intention should be carefully considered by policy makers when developing effective reproductive health and family planning policies. This approach will ensure that policies are tailored to meet the needs and preferences of married childless women.