Socio-reproductive and demographic factors affecting the decision making of ever married fertile females towards want of another child in future: A study of state based hospitals in Multan, Pakistan

Abstract

This cross sectional study centered around exploring the underlying factors behind fertility preferences of the married females. The data was collected from 2505 ever married fertile females in their reproductive age span who were utilizing antenatal or postnatal health care services from state based hospitals of the study vicinity. The empirical results of the study illustrated that elderly women in late reproductive age span i.e. ˃35 years, being secondary or highly educated, residing in urban areas, having educated marital partner and being non-occupational are the major demographic factors that inclined the females attitude towards less want of another child in future.Moreover, having no children (either sons or daughters’), no birth in past 5 years/past year and never using contraceptives are the major socio-reproductive factors that directly affect the high fertility preferences of the married females in future. High female education, adequate awareness campaigns, ideological transformation as well as role of media are the major recommendations that can alter the fertility intensions and future birth rate of the study vicinity.