Fertility Desire of Women and Related Factors: Karabuk and N'Djamena Samples

Abstract

Objective: Fertility desire is one of the important factors influencing population growth and women's fertility-related health outcomes. This study aimed to assess women's fertility desire and factors associated with excess fertility desire in two populations with different socio-demographic and cultural characteristics. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Karabuk and a health center in N'Djamena. The sample size was calculated as 611 women (311 for Karabuk, 300 for N'Djamena). The study's dependent variable is the desire to have children, which was determined by asking women about their ideal number of children. Independent variables included women's sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics, and some perceptions about women’s status. The chi-square test was used to compare the sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics of women. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated via binary logistic regression analysis to explore the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Results: A total of 615 women were reached. The average ideal number of children for women was 2.7 in Karabuk and 5.6 in N'Djamena. In the whole study group multivariable logistic regression analysis, unofficial marriages (OR = 12.1), the belief that a woman's fertility is determined by her husband or God (OR = 2.5), lower education level (primary school and below) (OR = 2.4) and the husband's increasing ideal number of children (OR = 2.3) were associated with women's excess fertility desire. Conclusion: The findings of the study reveal significant differences between the fertility patterns and preferences of women in the two populations and the influence of social structure on women's fertility behaviors. Policies aimed at empowering women and eliminating gender inequalities should be pursued to protect them from the adverse effects of excess fertility.