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Banaei, M., Kariman, N., Sharif Nia, H., & Mokhtarian-Gilani, T. (2023). The role of the Coronavirus pandemic on childbearing intentions in Iranian women based on path analysis: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM), 21(1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v21i1.12665
https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v21i1.12665
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authors
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Mojdeh Banaei
Mojdeh Banaei
Mother and Child Welfare Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
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Nourossadat Kariman
Nourossadat Kariman
Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Hamid Sharif Nia
Hamid Sharif Nia
Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research Center, Addiction Institute, Amol Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
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Tahereh Mokhtarian-Gilani
Tahereh Mokhtarian-Gilani
Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Published Date
- Feb 8, 2023
The role of the Coronavirus pandemic on childbearing intentions in Iranian women based on path analysis: A cross-sectional study
Abstract
Background: The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may lead to couples not being physically and mentally ready to assume a parenting role.
Objective: Given the changes in reproductive behaviors and the lack of accurate information about childbearing factors during the Coronavirus pandemic, this study was conducted to investigate the role of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iranian couples’ childbearing intentions based on the theory of planned behavior model.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 married Iranian women from July to October 2020 using official online popular social networks. Data were collected using a demographic checklist and the researchermade questionnaire, which was designed based on the main constructs of the planned behavior model.
Results: Testing the indirect relationships of the mediation model effect showed a positive relationship between knowledge (β = 0.226, p < 0.001) and subjective norms (β = 0.155, p = 0.001) about COVID-19. Anxiety about COVID-19 mediated the relationship of knowledge (β = 0.105, p = 0.009), attitude (β = -0.125, p = 0.002), subjective norms (β = 0.238, p < 0.001), and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.513, p < 0.001) about COVID-19 with childbearing intentions.
Conclusion: The results showed that COVID-19-induced anxiety can affect the relationship between the components of the theory of planned behavior model and childbearing intentions. Therefore, it is suggested that by designing appropriate interventions through anxiety-reducing and relaxation techniques, a fundamental step can be taken in increasing childbearing desires.
Key words: Iran, Delayed childbearing, Reproductive behavior, COVID-19, Attitude.
References
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[13] Roy D, Tripathy S, Kar SK, Sharma N, Verma SK, Kaushal V. Study of knowledge, attitude, anxiety & perceived mental healthcare need in Indian population during COVID-19 pandemic. Asian J Psychiatr 2020; 51: 102083.
[14] Peterson BD, Pirritano M, Tucker L, Lampic C. Fertility awareness and parenting attitudes among American male and female undergraduate university students. Hum Reprod 2012; 27: 1375–1382.
[15] Ajzen I, Klobas J. Fertility intentions: An approach based on the theory of planned behavior. Demographic Res 2013; 29: 203–232.
[16] Li X, Fan Y, Assanangkornchai S, McNeil EB. Application of the theory of planned behavior to couples’ fertility decision-making in Inner Mongolia, China. PloS One 2019; 14: e0.221526.
[17] Williamson LEA, Lawson KL. Young women’s intentions to delay childbearing: A test of the theory of planned behaviour. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2015; 33: 205–213.
[18] Mencarini L, Vignoli D, Gottard A. Fertility intentions and outcomes: Implementing the theory of planned behavior with graphical models. Adv Life Course Res 2015; 23: 14–28.
[19] Vignoli D, Bazzani G, Guetto R, Minello A, Pirani E. Uncertainty and narratives of the future: A theoretical framework for contemporary fertility. In: Schoen R. Analyzing contemporary fertility. Cham: Springer; 2020.
[20] Malicka I, Mynarska M, Świderska J. Perceived consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and childbearing intentions in Poland. J Fam Res 2021; 33: 674–702.
[21] Söderberg M, Christensson K, Lundgren I, Hildingsson I. Women’s attitudes towards fertility and childbearing - A study based on a national sample of Swedish women validating the attitudes to fertility and childbearing scale (AFCS). Sex Reprod Healthc 2015; 6: 54–58.
[22] Zare Z, Saffari E, Kiaee Tabar R. [Fertility motivations and their relation with attitude towards government incentives for childbearing in women of reproductive age]. J Mazandaran Univ Med Sci 2018; 28: 104–114. (in Persian)
[23] Shin H, Lee J, Kim SJ, Jo M. Attitudes towards parenthood and fertility awareness in female and male university students in South Korea. Child Health Nurs Res 2020; 26: 329–337.
[24] Barber JS. Ideational influences on the transition to parenthood: Attitudes toward childbearing and competing alternatives. Soc Psychol Q 2001; 64: 101–127.
[25] Yassa M, Birol P, Yirmibes C, Usta C, Haydar A, Yassa A, et al. Near-term pregnant women’s attitude toward, concern about and knowledge of the COVID-19 pandemic. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2020; 33: 3827–3834.
[26] Voicu M, Bădoi D. Fertility and the COVID-19 crisis: Do gender roles really matter? Eur Soc 2021; 23 (Suppl.): S199–S214.
[27] Liu X, Chen M, Wang Y, Sun L, Zhang J, Shi Y, et al. Prenatal anxiety and obstetric decisions among pregnant women in Wuhan and Chongqing during the COVID-19 outbreak: A cross-sectional study. BJOG 2020; 127: 1229 1240.
[28] Sögüt S, Dolu İ, Cangöl E. The relationship between COVID19 knowledge levels and anxiety states of midwifery students during the outbreak: A cross-sectional web-based survey. Perspect Psychiatr Care 2021; 57: 246–252.
[29] Bäuerle A, Teufel M, Musche V, Weismüller B, Kohler H, Hetkamp M, et al. Increased generalized anxiety, depression and distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Germany. J Public Health 2020; 42: 672–678.
[30] Nandi A, Mazumdar S, Behrman JR. The effect of natural disaster on fertility, birth spacing, and child sex ratio: Evidence from a major earthquake in India. J Popul Econ 2018; 31: 267– 293.
[31] Favre G, Pomar L, Musso D, Baud D. 2019-nCoV epidemic: What about pregnancies? Lancet 2020; 395: e40.
[2] Xiang Y-T, Yang Y, Li W, Zhang L, Zhang Q, Cheung T, et al. Timely mental health care for the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak is urgently needed. Lancet Psychiatry 2020; 7: 228– 229.
[3] Oshrieh Z, Tehranian N, Ebrahimi E, Keramat A, Hassani M, Kharaghani R. Childbearing intention and its associated factors among adolescent girls: A narrative review. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res 2019; 25: 7–11.
[4] Cascella M, Rajnik M, Cuomo A, Dulebohn SC, Di Napoli R. Features, evaluation and treatment coronavirus (COVID-19). Treasure Island (FL): Stat Pearls Publishing; 2020.
[5] Micelli E, Cito G, Cocci A, Polloni G, Russo GI, Minervini A, et al. Desire for parenthood at the time of COVID-19 pandemic: An insight into the Italian situation. J Psychosom Obstet Gynecol 2020; 41: 183–190.
[6] Banaei M, Ghasemi V, Saei Ghare Naz M, Kiani Z, RashidiFakari F, Banaei S, et al. Obstetrics and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19: A systematic review. Iran J Public Health 2020; 49: 38–47.
[7] Fan C, Lu W, Li K, Ding Y, Wang J. ACE2 expression in kidney and testis may cause kidney and testis infection in COVID-19 patients. Front Med 2021; 7: 563893.
[8] He Y, Wang J, Ren J, Zhao Y, Chen J, Chen X. Effect of COVID-19 on male reproductive system: A systematic review. Front Endocrinol 2021; 12: 677701.
[9] Bachrach CA, Morgan SP. A cognitive-social model of fertility intentions. Pop Dev Rev 2013; 39: 459–485.
[10] Pan L, Zhang X, Wang S, Zhao N, Zhao R, Ding B, et al. Determinants associated with self-management behavior among type 2 diabetes patients in China: A structural equation model based on the theory of planned behavior. Int J Clin Health Psychol 2023; 23: 100332.
[11] Caplescu R. Using the theory of planned behaviour to study fertility intentions in Romania. Procedia Economics and Finance 2014; 10: 125–133.
[12] Drążkowski D, Trepanowski R. Reactance and perceived disease severity as determinants of COVID-19 vaccination intention: An application of the theory of planned behavior. Psychol Health Med 2022; 27: 2171–2178.
[13] Roy D, Tripathy S, Kar SK, Sharma N, Verma SK, Kaushal V. Study of knowledge, attitude, anxiety & perceived mental healthcare need in Indian population during COVID-19 pandemic. Asian J Psychiatr 2020; 51: 102083.
[14] Peterson BD, Pirritano M, Tucker L, Lampic C. Fertility awareness and parenting attitudes among American male and female undergraduate university students. Hum Reprod 2012; 27: 1375–1382.
[15] Ajzen I, Klobas J. Fertility intentions: An approach based on the theory of planned behavior. Demographic Res 2013; 29: 203–232.
[16] Li X, Fan Y, Assanangkornchai S, McNeil EB. Application of the theory of planned behavior to couples’ fertility decision-making in Inner Mongolia, China. PloS One 2019; 14: e0.221526.
[17] Williamson LEA, Lawson KL. Young women’s intentions to delay childbearing: A test of the theory of planned behaviour. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2015; 33: 205–213.
[18] Mencarini L, Vignoli D, Gottard A. Fertility intentions and outcomes: Implementing the theory of planned behavior with graphical models. Adv Life Course Res 2015; 23: 14–28.
[19] Vignoli D, Bazzani G, Guetto R, Minello A, Pirani E. Uncertainty and narratives of the future: A theoretical framework for contemporary fertility. In: Schoen R. Analyzing contemporary fertility. Cham: Springer; 2020.
[20] Malicka I, Mynarska M, Świderska J. Perceived consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and childbearing intentions in Poland. J Fam Res 2021; 33: 674–702.
[21] Söderberg M, Christensson K, Lundgren I, Hildingsson I. Women’s attitudes towards fertility and childbearing - A study based on a national sample of Swedish women validating the attitudes to fertility and childbearing scale (AFCS). Sex Reprod Healthc 2015; 6: 54–58.
[22] Zare Z, Saffari E, Kiaee Tabar R. [Fertility motivations and their relation with attitude towards government incentives for childbearing in women of reproductive age]. J Mazandaran Univ Med Sci 2018; 28: 104–114. (in Persian)
[23] Shin H, Lee J, Kim SJ, Jo M. Attitudes towards parenthood and fertility awareness in female and male university students in South Korea. Child Health Nurs Res 2020; 26: 329–337.
[24] Barber JS. Ideational influences on the transition to parenthood: Attitudes toward childbearing and competing alternatives. Soc Psychol Q 2001; 64: 101–127.
[25] Yassa M, Birol P, Yirmibes C, Usta C, Haydar A, Yassa A, et al. Near-term pregnant women’s attitude toward, concern about and knowledge of the COVID-19 pandemic. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2020; 33: 3827–3834.
[26] Voicu M, Bădoi D. Fertility and the COVID-19 crisis: Do gender roles really matter? Eur Soc 2021; 23 (Suppl.): S199–S214.
[27] Liu X, Chen M, Wang Y, Sun L, Zhang J, Shi Y, et al. Prenatal anxiety and obstetric decisions among pregnant women in Wuhan and Chongqing during the COVID-19 outbreak: A cross-sectional study. BJOG 2020; 127: 1229 1240.
[28] Sögüt S, Dolu İ, Cangöl E. The relationship between COVID19 knowledge levels and anxiety states of midwifery students during the outbreak: A cross-sectional web-based survey. Perspect Psychiatr Care 2021; 57: 246–252.
[29] Bäuerle A, Teufel M, Musche V, Weismüller B, Kohler H, Hetkamp M, et al. Increased generalized anxiety, depression and distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Germany. J Public Health 2020; 42: 672–678.
[30] Nandi A, Mazumdar S, Behrman JR. The effect of natural disaster on fertility, birth spacing, and child sex ratio: Evidence from a major earthquake in India. J Popul Econ 2018; 31: 267– 293.
[31] Favre G, Pomar L, Musso D, Baud D. 2019-nCoV epidemic: What about pregnancies? Lancet 2020; 395: e40.