The Role of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Childbearing Intentions in Iranian Women: A Path Analysis

Abstract

Background: The novel Coronavirus disease is a newly-emerged global challenge that has rapidly spread throughout the world. The COVID-19 pandemic may lead to couples not being physically and mentally ready to assume a parenting role. Given the changes in reproductive behaviors and the lack of accurate information about childbearing factors during the Coronavirus pandemic, the present study investigates the role of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iranian couples’ childbearing intentions based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model.Methods: The present descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted on 400 married Iranian women in their reproductive age. Sampling was carried out over four months from 12 July 2020 using official online social networks popular among the public. Data were collected using a demographic checklist and the researcher-made questionnaire entitled “Factors related to childbearing intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic”, which was designed based on the main constructs of the planned behavior model. Data were then analyzed in AMOS-24 using path analysis.Results: The mean age of the participants was 33.41 years. Testing the indirect relationships of the mediation model effect showed a positive relationship between knowledge (β = 0.226, p < .001) and subjective norms (β = 0.155, p = .001) about COVID-19. Anxiety about COVID-19 mediated the relationship of knowledge (β = .105, p = .009), attitude (β = -0.125, p = .002), subjective norms (β = .238, p < .001), and perceived behavioral control (β = .513, p < .001) about COVID-19 with childbearing intentions.Conclusions: Childbearing intentions had a direct relationship with knowledge, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control in relation to COVID-19, and COVID-19-induced anxiety had a mediating role among the TPB constructs for performing an intended behavior (childbearing desire). Designing appropriate interventions to increase childbearing desires through anxiety-reducing and relaxation techniques will prove more effective.

Childbearing decisions and related factors in the COVID-19 pandemic: A narrative review study

“…The COVID-19 outspread and the increase in morbidity and mortality led to different psychological problems such as depression, stress and anxiety. [ 31 ] Financial fluctuations and economic uncertainty due to the pandemic also resulted in psychological stress for all social strata. [ 6 ] Mimoun et al .…”