Predictors of childbearing intention in married couples in southern Iran: Applying the extended theory of planned behavior - Payesh (Health Monitor)
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Volume 25, Issue 3 (May-June 2026)                   Payesh 2026, 25(3): 401-410 | Back to browse issues page

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Masoudy G, Arabborzu Z, kondori M, Rahdar M, Sotudeh H, Saravani K. Predictors of childbearing intention in married couples in southern Iran: Applying the extended theory of planned behavior. Payesh 2026; 25 (3) :401-410
URL: http://payeshjournal.ir/article-1-2760-en.html
1- Public Health Group, School of Health, Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
2- Statistics and Epidemiology Group, School of Health. Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
3- Department of Health, School of Health, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
4- Department of Management, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
5- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
Abstract:   (38 Views)
Objective(S): The rate of childbearing has decreased in Iran and other countries, which may cause problems in the country's development. This study investigated the factors related to childbearing in couples in the Sistan region according to the extended theory of planned behaviour.
Methods: A study was conducted from August 2023 to August 2024 on couples who had been married for 1 to 13 years, using a randomized cluster sampling method. Data were collected using a standardised questionnaire whose validity and reliability had been confirmed by experts, as well as the Cronbach’s alpha test. The data were analysed using descriptive and analytic statistics in SPSS Software Version 22, at a significance level of P<0.05.
Resutls: The mean age of the subjects was 30.12 ± 6.61, and villagers and homeowners had significantly higher childbearing intentions. Couples obtained a total score of 58.7%, 63.01%, 58.85%, 70.55%, 70.83%, and 74.2% on the scales of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, behavioural intention, moral norm, and self-identity, respectively. Results showed that the studied constructs had a statistically significant relationship with childbearing intention at the 0.01 level. In addition, based on the linear regression test, the constructs of subjective norms, moral norms, and perceived self-identity predicted 0.347% of the variance in the intention to have children (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The extended theory of planned behavior serves as an appropriate framework for examining the intention to bear children. Based on the findings, the constructs of moral norms, subjective norms, and perceived self-identity present valuable avenues for studying or intervening in the realm of childbearing.
Full-Text [PDF 994 kb]   (25 Downloads)    
type of study: Descriptive | Subject: Social Determinants of Health
Received: 2024/12/27 | Accepted: 2025/12/6 | ePublished ahead of print: 2026/05/6 | Published: 2026/05/6

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