Impact analysis of husband-wife conversation about number of children
Oh, Y.H.
In'gu Pogon Nonjip 8(1): 58-72
1988
PMID: 12281392 Document Number: 358105
This article uses the data from the National Fertility and Family Health Survey to analyze the impact of husband-wife communication on their number of children. Major findings of the study follow. 1) At the time of the survey, 78.2% of currently married women aged 15-44 had experienced husband-wife conversation about family size; 51.5% of the respondents had experienced conversation before or after the 1st pregnancy, 18.2% after 1st birth, and 8.4% after 2nd birth. 2) When classified by general features of married women aged 15-44, husband-wife conversation about number of children showed high rates among the younger women, among the women with the higher age at 1st marriage, and among the women with higher education, and premarital work experience. 3) Husband-wife conversation about number of children had an impact on fertility with different characteristics of target women, showing a difference according to conversation experience and time. Mean number of children among women with conversation experience before or after the 1st pregnancy, or after the 1st birth is 1 less than that of other women. 4) To analyze the impact on fertility with conversation about the number of children, educational level of women, work experience before marriage, conversation about family size, age at 1st marriage, desire for a son, contraceptive practice, and areal difference are selected as independent variables, and number of living children as the dependent variable. Results from regression analysis of the above data show that conversation between couples has a more significant effect on fertility than other variables, thus contributing to birth control. Conversation before the 1st live birth has a significant impact on fertility, but it does not bring about a big difference after the 2nd live birth. Thus, it is expected that conversation about number of children between husband and wife be had in the early stage of marriage; it is also recommended that public relations be used to spread a fewer children orientation.