Determinants of Desired Number of Children Among Women of Reproductive Age: A Systematic Review
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Abstract
Abstract
In recent years, fertility and birth rates have declined continuously across the world, including in Thailand. Although the government implemented several policies and measures to encourage childbirth, the expected outcomes had not yet been achieved. This systematic review aimed to collect, analyze, and synthesize existing knowledge on factors influencing the desired number of children among women of reproductive age. The review focused on quantitative studies that examined predictive factors or factors related to dependent variables such as desired number of children, fertility desire, repeat pregnancy, plan for additional children, or intention to have children. The target population included women aged 15–49 years. Studies published between 2015 and 2024 in Thai and English and available in full text were included. A total of nine studies met the inclusion criteria from 5,845 articles initially identified.
The results showed that the factors influencing the desired number of children among women of reproductive age were diverse and interrelated. These factors were classified into six main groups: demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, family characteristics, attitudes and psychological factors, fertility and reproductive health factors, and access to opportunities and resources related to childbearing. The findings indicated that decisions about having children were not determined solely by individual factors but were also linked to social, economic, and environmental contexts.
The knowledge obtained from this review could be used as a foundation for further studies and as guidance for developing effective public health and governmental policies to promote childbirth.
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