The effect of different types of social network on fertility intention: The case study of ever- married women in urban areas of Bushehr province

Individuals are within social networks and these networks can influence such critical decisions as intention of childbearing. Social networking typology has been conducted according to the structure, the nature and composition of the network and its effective mechanisms, including social pressure, social contagion, social learning and social support, according to the cluster analysis technique. Using multi-stage cluster sampling, 600 eligible women aged 18-44 years were selected and studied in urban areas of Bushehr province. The cluster analysis results indicated four different social networking types among the women studied that the characteristics of each of them are detailed in this article. The results of logistic regression analysis show that family-centered social networks have the most probability of going to a higher parity progression. This probability for non-supportive, kin - centered, and friend-centered social networks are 5.18, 2.80 and 2.24 times more, respectively. Due to declining size of family-centered social networks throughout modern life it is necessary to adopt policies to protect social network and to find solutions to compensate for their important role regarding childbearing.