Attitude toward Governmental Incentives on Childbearing and its Relationship with Fertility Preferences in Couples Attending Premarital Counseling Clinic in Health Centers in Mashhad

Background and Since last three decades a rapid reduction was seen in the total fertility rate in Iran. Therefore, the government’s policy on childbearing has changed and some incentives have been offered in 2012 to increase the rate of childbearing. This study aimed at determining the relationship between governmental incentives on childbearing and the attitude of couples attending premarital counseling clinics in health centers in Mashhad in 2013 towards fertility preferences. The participants were 450 couples who referred to the health centers for premarital counseling. Demographic information was collected and the Miller’s Childbearing Questionnaire (1995) was used. Data was then analyzed using Pearson correlation and independent t-test. The couple's desire for childbearing was calculated based on a numerical rating scale (1 to 10). The mean score for the desire for childbearing was 5.58 ± 2.88. The mean number of desired children was 2.37 ± 1.11and the mean of desired interval between marriage and the birth of first child was 31.01 ± 20.64 months. Inverse relationship was seen between the attitude toward governmental incentives on childbearing and the desire for childbearing and desired number of children (P<0.001). However, significant correlation was observed between the attitude toward governmental incentives on childbearing and the desired interval between marriage and the birth of first child (P<0.001). The results showed that the majority of couples were interested in having two children. Also, an increase was seen in the interval between marriage and the birth of first child. This study showed a positive effect of governmental incentives for childbearing in couples who tend to have lower fertility rate and delayed onset of childbearing.