INTENTION TO CHILDBEARING A THIRD CHILD IN FERTILE AGE - CROSS-SECTIONAL RESEARCH

Abstract

Introduction: The decline in the number of births in the fertile age is present in an increasing number of countries that are now forced to adopt measures to encourage an increase in fertility. Childbearing intention plays an important role in predicting fertility behavior. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the prevalence and related factors of the intention to have a third child in the population of women of childbearing age and to analyze sociodemographic differences.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the coastal part of the Republic of Croatia from September 2021 to December 2022. A total of 1,541 women of childbearing age filled out a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 22.0). Sociodemographic data and data on the intention to have a third child are presented with descriptive statistics. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess the influencing factors at the socio-demographic level.

Results: The average age of the subjects was 30.8 ± 5.2 years. Only 5% of respondents stated that they intend to have a third child. The most pronounced factor of the intention to have a child is "It's nice to watch children grow and develop" (24%), which highlights a positive attitude towards the birth of a third child, and "an unresolved housing issue" (28%) stands out as a negative attitude towards the birth of a third child. Age has a negative influence on the intention to have a third child (OR = 0.96). Women of later childbearing age (>32 years) had a significantly higher probability of not having three children than women of earlier childbearing age (<32 years) (p < 0.001). With the improvement of education and monthly family income, the intention to have children shows a downward trend. Further predictors of the intention to have a third child are first marriage and living in a rural area (p < 0.05). Even people who have two children tend to have a third child (OR = 1.83).

Conclusion: The intention to have a third child is still low. It is necessary to ensure a favorable population policy for the fertile age group. Adequate population measures would increase the possibility of changing the attitude of the part of the population that currently expresses a negative attitude towards the birth of a third child.