Predictors of Fertility Desire During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Fertility, the most important factor in population growth, is affected by various factors, including pandemics. COVID-19 (CV) was a global challenge that spread rapidly around the world. This study aimed to investigate predictors of fertility desire during the covid virus pandemic. In this cross-sectional study, 315 women who visited health centers in northern Iran for vaccination against covid virus were recruited using convenient sampling. The participants completed the sociodemographic information, Fertility Desire Scale, and Fear of covid virus scale. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the predictive factors of fertility desire. The participants' mean age and marriage duration were 34.4 ± 6.7, and 7.3±11.5 years, respectively. It showed fertility desire among household women was about twofold more compared to employed ones [Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.96, p = 0.009)]. The fertility desire was decreased among more educated women (OR = 0.43, p= 0.035), women with one child (OR = 0.44, p= 0.030), and women with no infant gender preferences (OR = 0.53, p= 0.032). Fear of covid virus and any history of covid virus infection in the participants or their close relatives did not change fertility desire (P > 0.05). In conclusion, health policymakers should pay more attention to the potential effects of women's employment, their educational status, and their attitude toward infant gender preferences on fertility desire during the development of programs. Further research is needed to examine this empirical association on a global scale and its effect on trying to conceive.