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Zhao M, O'Hara CA, Sahril NB, Liu H, Pei K, Ivanova O, Larsson EC, Shamu S, Kpokiri E, Cleeve A, Tucker JD, Michielsen K, Zhang WH. Associations between the COVID-19 pandemic and women's fertility intentions: a multi-country, cross-sectional (I-SHARE) study. BMJ SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2024; 50:83-91. [PMID: 37857464 DOI: 10.1136/bmjsrh-2023-201819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic, together with the subsequent social distancing measures, could lead to shifts in family and fertility planning. This study aimed to explore the associations between the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in fertility intentions among an international sample of reproductive-aged women. METHODS A multi-country, cross-sectional study based on data from 10 672 women aged 18-49 years who participated in the International Sexual Health And REproductive Health (I-SHARE) study, which organised an international online survey between July 2020 and February 2021. Factors associated with changes in fertility intentions were explored using multinomial probit regression models. Cluster-robust standard errors were used to calculate model parameters. RESULTS Of 10 672 included reproductive-aged women, 14.4% reported changing their fertility intentions due to the pandemic, with 10.2% postponement and 4.2% acceleration. Women who had ever been isolated/quarantined were more likely to postpone their fertility intentions (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.41; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.69) compared with those who had not; women who lived with a steady partner were more likely to want children sooner (AOR=1.57; 95% CI 1.10 to 2.23) compared with those who did not; and those who reported a higher frequency of getting angry, feeling frustrated, or worrying about their finances were more likely to postpone their fertility intentions. The main findings were robust in the sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS Most women who changed fertility intentions because of the pandemic have postponed intentions to expand their families. The pandemic-induced exposures were associated with these postponements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhao
- Department of Infectious Disease, Xi'an Jiaotong University Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
- School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
- International Center for Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | | | - Huijun Liu
- School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Kaiyan Pei
- Social Medicine Center, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Olena Ivanova
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research, Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elin C Larsson
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Simukai Shamu
- Foundation for Professional Development, Health Systems Strengthening, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Eneyi Kpokiri
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Amanda Cleeve
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joseph D Tucker
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kristien Michielsen
- International Center for Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wei-Hong Zhang
- International Center for Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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Meng T, Zhang Y, Lv J, Zhu C, Lan L, Zhang T. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's fertility intentions and its policy implications for China and the rest of the world: a perspective essay. BIODEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY 2023; 68:87-100. [PMID: 37309161 DOI: 10.1080/19485565.2023.2221842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and its social, economic, and health implications have generally reduced women's fertility intentions in different countries. In this article, we aimed to review studies of the impact of COVID-19 infection on women's fertility intentions and interventions to provide a theoretical basis and practical benchmark for the development of effective intervention strategies in China, which lifted its zero COVID system in early December 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Meng
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Yongmei Zhang
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Jiayu Lv
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Chunle Zhu
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Lan Lan
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
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