The relationship between death distress and fertility intentions in married women after the earthquake.

Abstract

Objectives: Earthquake is a traumatic event with significant physiological and psychological effects, profoundly altering individuals' lives. This study aimed to determine the relationship between death distress and fertility intentions among women who experienced the Kahramanmaras earthquake in Türkiye on February 6, 2023.

Methods: This descriptive, correlational study included 294 married women residing in an earthquake-affected region of Turkey. We collected data using the Participant Information Form and the Brief Death Distress Scale.

Results: A total of 294 women participated in this study. The mean death distress score was 25.65 ± 7.46. The death depression dimension had the highest score among the subdimensions of the death distress scale (11.02 ± 3.61). Age, income level, pregnancy, number of children, extent of house damage during the earthquake, and experience of being trapped under debris were factors influencing death-related distress. Women who changed their fertility intentions had higher levels of death distress, anxiety, and obsession than those who did not change their fertility intentions.

Conclusions: This study provides a new perspective for understanding post-earthquake changes in married women's mental health and fertility behavior. Death distress is a key factor that should be considered in planning post-disaster healthcare services for women.