Predictors of Fertility Intention in Parents with Educable Intellectually Disabled Children in Isfahan, Iran

The fertility rate has declined in many countries over the past decades. Fertility intention is the determinant of fertility behavior. Various factors may affect the fertility intention of couples with no or healthy children. However, some parents may also have children with intellectual disabilities that affect their childbearing. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to identify predictors of fertility intention in parents with educable intellectually disabled children.

The present study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 193 parents with educable intellectually disabled children living in Isfahan. Sampling was implemented using clustering and the classification method from February to July 2019. Data were collected through a self-report questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 20, logistic regression, and independent t-tests.

Approximately 83.9% of participants had negative fertility intentions. Predictors of fertility intention were perceived behavior control (95%CI: 1.14- 1.42; p = 0.001; OR = 1.28), attitude (95%CI: 1.06- 1.24; p = 0.001; OR = 1.14) and subjective norm (95%CI: 1.08- 1.33; p = 0.001; OR = 1.20), respectively. On the other hand, the perceived behavioral control was the strongest predictor. The son preference was higher in parents with positive fertility intentions (p < 0.05).

According to the results of the present study, it seemed that factors such as perceived behavior control, attitude, and subjective norms affected fertility intention in parents with intellectually disabled children. Therefore, it is suggested to gain knowledge about the roles of these predictors and counsel parents to choose contraceptive methods or encourage them in childbearing.