| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 衛生政策與管理研究所 === 94 === Objectives
Total fertility rates in Taiwan declined sharply from 2.76 in 1975 to 1.18 in 2004, which no doubt will have a great impact on future national development. In this study, we investigated the factors that influence fertility intention of postpartum spouses. This research will provide a beneficial reference for developing a strategy to encourage fertility.
Materials and Methods
With an awareness of gender differences, we focused on potential factors including demographic characteristics, physical and mental health, pregnancy and childbearing experiences, social expectations, family function and features, child value and child-raising conditions. Then we analyze the factors affecting their willingness to have additional children. We selected 600 couples of samples randomly from Birth Registry Database in Taipei 2004. Then we conducted a self-reported questionnaire survey from Nov.2005 to Feb.2006, in other words, one to one-and-half years after the birth occurred. There were 905 cases (455 women and 450 men) among which 455 couples finished the survey. The completion rate was 74%.
Results
（1） Multiple logistic regression findings indicated:
a) Women with modern views on child-raising have the higher fertility intension (OR=1.18-2.73). Those women tending to have lower fertility intention include those who already have many existent children (OR=0.12-0.58), whose husband are unwilling to have additional children (OR=0.001-0.005), who disagree with their partners on having additional kids (OR=0.05-0.52), who feel uncertain about social development (OR=0.09-0.68).
b) The men tending to have lower fertility intention include those who are older (OR=0.84-0.97), who have many existent children (OR=0.07-0.30), whose wives are unwilling to have additional children in the future (OR=0.03-0.12) .
（2） Views on child-raising: “Pleasure in parenting” dominate the urban area, more important than biological purpose of “carrying on the family lineage.” Genders also play a major role in child-raising. Women show their maternal altruism, in that they consider to have additional children is to create better siblings support. Some housewives have economic motivation in obtaining care for their own old age. On the other hand, men are concerned with adequate financial support for additional children. Besides, the couple’s traditional value will influence women’s fertility intention.
（3）Single variable analysis shows significant potential factors which include physical and mental health, pregnancy and childbearing experience, family function and couple’s affective cohesiveness.
Suggestion
(1) develop gender equity population policy, (2) assist older parents’ child-raising difficulty, (3) promote physical and mental health, and implement “parenting support group”, (4) provide safe and friendly maternal and postpartum care, (5) strengthen familial function, (6) disseminate positive values on child-raising, and encourage couples’ communication, (7) popularize family planning with diverse measures.
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