The impact of a reduced fertility rate on women's health

Abstract

Health Issue: Total fertility rates (TFRs) have decreased worldwide. The Canadian fertility rate has gone from 3.90 per woman in 1960 to 1.49 in 2000. However, not many studies have examined the impact on women's health of reduced fertility rates, delayed fertility and more births to unmarried women. This paper presents information on the relation between family size and specific determinants of health. Key Findings:The rate of TFR decline varies considerably by geographic location and sociodemographic subgroup. Further, the associations between family size and selected determinants of health are different for women and men. For example a woman with one child is almost four times more likely to be "coupled" than a childless woman, and if she has two children she is significantly more likely to be "coupled" than if she had only one child. However, a man with one or more children is over six times more likely to be "coupled" than his childless counterpart, and this does not vary with family size. Data Gaps and Recommendations:There is a paucity of data on the impact of reduced fertility rates on women's health in general and on how women's roles affect their decision to have children. While it would be useful to examine longer-term health outcomes by parity and age of first birth, as well as socio-economic and role-related variables these longitudinal and detailed "role related" data are not available. Given the differing profiles of women and men with children, further health policies research is needed to support vulnerable women with children.

HIV stigma, psychological distress and social support and their relationship to fertility intentions amongst HIV positive (HIV+) women

“…Although several studies in North America, Africa and South America (i.e., Chen et al, 2001;Ogilvie et al, 2007;Sowell et al, 2002;Myer et al, 2007;Oladapo et al, 2005;Nobrega et al, 2007) have investigated predictors of fertility intentions, these studies have not examined psychological variables, such as stigma and psychological distress, as either correlates or moderators of fertility intentions. 58.6% of the sample reported that they intended to have children, which is high compared to rates found in the general Canadian population (37.5%; Payne, 2006). The current study found that higher levels of social support, increased perceived stigma, African ethnicity and residing in Toronto were associated with increased fertility intentions.…”

“…Women were recruited from all HIV clinics and AIDS service organizations in British Columbia, and a total of 182 women of childbearing age were surveyed. 25.8% of the sample indicated they intended to have children (Ogilvie et al, 2007), while in the general Canadian population, approximately 3 7.5% of women indicated they intended to have children (Payne, 2006). In multivariable analyses, being younger, not being aboriginal and being in a stable relationship were associated with higher fertility intentions.…”

Female married illiteracy as the most important continual determinant of total fertility rate among districts of Empowered Action Group States of India: Evidence from Annual Health Survey 2011–12

“…[ 1 ] The fertility rate directly influences maternal health, and eventually socioeconomic status of the people, family, society, and at large the economy of a nation. [ 2 3 4 ] Recent London Summit on Family Planning 2020 is a step to revamp the activities of population stabilization including TFR.…”

Fertility desires of women living with HIV/aids in northern British Columbia.

“…This rate is comparable to that of the general population (Ogilvie et al, 2007;Payne, 2003). The implication is that Canadian women appear to have similar reproductive intents regardless o f their HIV/AIDS serostatus (Ogilvie et al, 2007).…”

“…Research shows that, in Canada and other developed countries, mother-to-child-transmission was reduced to 0.1% if the mothers adhered to HARRT for at least 4 weeks before delivery but for women with HIV, becoming a mother brings with it challenges beyond what HIV-negative mothers experience (Bitnun et al, 2014;Loutfy et al, 2009;Ogilvie et al, 2007). Research in Canada showed that, fertility desires and expectation to have children among women living with HIV are similar to HIV negative women (Loufty et al, 2009;Ogilvie et at., 2007;Payne, 2003).…”