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A Comparative Study of Facilitating and Barrier Factors of Childbearing from the Perspectives of Women and Men Attending Health Care Centers in Ahvaz
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Hossein Komeili Sani   , Bahman Dasht Bozorgi , Mohammad Hossein Haghighizadeh , Fatemeh Ahmadi * |
| Department of Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran , fateme.ahmadi1754@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (11 Views) |
Introduction: Childbearing is one of the most important decisions within a family and is influenced by a range of cultural, economic, and social factors as well as population policies. The decline in fertility rates below replacement level in Iran has become a major concern for health and population policymakers. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare the facilitating and inhibiting factors of childbearing from the perspectives of women and men attending health centers in Ahvaz.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 1404. A total of 400 married individuals, including 200 women and 200 men attending 10 selected health centers in Ahvaz, were recruited using random cluster sampling. Data were collected using the questionnaire developed by Tavousi et al. (1395), which included demographic characteristics and 59 items related to childbearing. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 and the independent-samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and chi-square test.
Results: The mean ages of men and women were 36.86 and 32.46 years, respectively. Most participants had university-level education (45%), were employed (53.5%), and had a moderate income level (66.5%). Among women, the three most important facilitating factors were “lowering the cost of infertility treatment,” “increasing difficulty of childbearing with advancing age,” and “reducing the pain and complications of pregnancy and childbirth.” Among men, the three most important facilitating factors were “lowering the cost of infertility treatment,” “the ability to breastfeed,” and “the positive effect of having a child on marital stability.” The most important inhibiting factors among women were “concerns about providing for children’s future educational and occupational needs,” “increasing economic problems,” and “lack of suitable housing,” whereas among men they were “concerns about providing for children’s future educational and occupational needs,” “increasing economic problems,” and “insufficient income.” Comparison of responses showed statistically significant differences between women and men in 15 facilitating and 14 inhibiting items (P ≤ 0.05).
Discussion and Conclusion: The findings showed that economic factors and concerns about children’s future were among the most important factors associated with childbearing decisions, and some demographic factors were also associated with the desire or reluctance to have children. Therefore, childbearing-related interventions should consider economic and future-oriented factors while also addressing differences between women and men. In this regard, enhancing job security, ensuring children’s educational future, and improving living conditions, while considering the distinct needs of women and men, may be an effective approach to addressing this issue.
Keywords: Childbearing, Facilitating Factors of Childbearing, Inhibiting Factors of Childbearing |
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| Keywords: Childbearing, Fertility |
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Type of Study: Community Health Nursing |
Subject:
nursing
Received: 2026/06/29 | Accepted: 2026/11/5 | Published: 2026/11/1
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