Why a third child? A study for evaluation of factors and determinants responsible for third child in a rural medical college hospital in U.P., India

Abstract

Introduction: The decision of conceiving a baby is always an important step in life of a couple. During our interview with rural pregnant patients with 2 living issues, we found that rural couples try to bear first child as early as possible due to the social pressure or are branded as infertile, to a large extent this child is also a product of desire to procreate. While the idea to conceive the first child is often a straightforward process in the concerned population, the conception of the third child is almost always a multi-faceted, complex and interlinked decision made between couples. This paper studies various factors involved in decision making prior the conception of third child.Aim and Objective: To evaluate the factors resulting into desire for a third child by pregnant patients with 2 living issues, in a rural Government Medical College & Hospital in U.P.Methodology: It’s an observational study conducted in Outpatient Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Government Medical College & Hospital, Kannauj in U.P. by means of predesigned pretested questionnaire allocated to the pregnant patients with 2 living issues, with proper consent.Results: Interview was conducted on a total of 392 pregnant patients with 2 living issues. Out of them the major influential factors were in-law’s pressure cited by 76.79% females, demand for more siblings was mentioned by 73.21%, affordable child care mentioned by 33.16%. 29.33% females wanted to teach their children values of sharing and caring by having third child, 25% females had two previous female children hence wanted third one in hope of a male child, 22.96% females wanted to take advantage of community support system, more earning members in future was dream of 24.25% females, unfortunate death of elder child was explained by 10.20% females, while pressure from any other person/peer pressure, knowledge from doctor, social media, neighbourhood community pressure was cited by 40.31%, 5.61%, 14.29%, 13.27% females respectively. Wife/Husband’s choice was cited by 5.36% females only.