Relationship between value of children and fertility rate in womem referred to Mashhad helth centers

The fertility rate is related to economic، social and cultural factors and accurate identification of these factors is necessary. The concept of «value of children» is the nature and degree of parent''s assessment of their children that highlights the importance of social structure. By comparison studies between different generations and cultures and considering the importance of reducing the annual population growth rate and its outcome، the present study was evaluated the association of value of children and fertility rate in women. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 1392 on 512 women referred to Mashhad health centers. Data gathering scale was demographic questionnaire and Trommsdorff value of children questionnaire that consists four dimensions “Utilitarian-normative، emotional، family، and old age security”. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 16) and kolmogorovsmirnov، pearson and spearman correlation، ANOVA and Tukey test. P value less than 0. 05 was considered significant. in present study “old age security” with an average 69. 65% have the most important and significant correlation between dimensions of value of children and only between the “family” dimension and the age exists significant relationship (p=0. 03). In this study، there was no significant relationship between dimensions of value of children and fertility (p>0. 05). value of children concept is a cultural dependant variable and fertility behavior in women mostly affected by personal and socioeconomic structure.