Fertility Intention and Related Factors for Having a Second or Third Child Among Childbearing Couples in Shanghai, China

Bibliographic Data

ID22068062
AuthorsChenfeng Zhu (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Yan Li (0000-0001-6650-7726, Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Li Yan (0000-0002-5258-8649), Yang Wang (0009-0007-0551-9820, Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Sifan Ji (0000-0002-4466-5907, Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Yiqin Zhang (0009-0007-3807-6608, Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Jian Zhang (0000-0001-7681-8747, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume10
Pages879672-879672
Publication date2022-06-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2022.879672
PMID35757654
OpenAlexW4281651147
LanguageEN
Citations received20
References cited26

Background and Purpose: As the global fertility rate declines, China has issued two and three-child policies in the past 10 years. Therefore, this study serves to evaluate fertility intention rates and related factors in couples intending to have a second child and third child. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in mainland China from July to August 2021. Couples with one or two children were invited to participate in our study in order to collect information about more than one child fertility intention and the possibly related factors. Odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and adjusted for potential confounding factors. Results: Data was collected from a total of 1,026 couples. Among couples with one child, 130 (16.2%) couples had the intention to have a second child. Additionally, only 9.4% of couples with two children desired to have third child. The study revealed large differences in socioeconomic and personal factors between the two groups. For couples with intentions for a second-child, a female age >35 years (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 1.92), a first child's age range from 3 to 6 (aOR 3.12), annual child spending as a percentage of household income >30% (aOR 2.62), and children's educational barriers (aOR 1.55) were associated with lack of intent to have a second child. Similarly, among couples with two children, parents with family financial constraints (aOR 6.18) and children's educational barriers (aOR 4.93) are more likely to have lack of intent to have a third child. Here, we report that government policies encouraging fertility (aOR 0.04) can effectly promote couples to pursue a second or third child. Conclusion: Overall, couples with one or two children in Shanghai had a low intention to give birth to a second or third child. In order to increase the birth rates, it is necessary to implement policies to reduce the burden of raising children and provide relief to parent's pressure of rearing a child with increased free time

China · Confidence interval · Environmental health · Family planning · Fertility · Geography · Logistic regression · Mainland China · Odds · Odds ratio · Population · Research methodology · Socioeconomic status · Total fertility rate · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Demography · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Medicine · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Technologies