Dauletova GSh, Karp LL, DeLellis NO, Zhuzzhanov OT, Absattarova KS.

«Àstana medical University», Kazakhstan

Reproductive behavior of young married women in Astana

Current demographic situation in Kazakhstan is characterized by a number of problems. Making a family is postponed to a later age, fewer children in the family; the choice of “a child or a career” is increasingly resolved in favor of women's careers. These trends could jeopardize the economic and political independence of the nation in the future.

Reproductive behavior of young women has a significant impact on the basic components of population reproduction - fertility.

The research was based to studying health and social aspects of fertility and reproductive behavior of young women in Astana. The aim of the study to develop measures to improve the motivation of women to birth children, which based on a comprehensive assessment of medical and social aspects of fertility and reproductive behavior of the female population in Astana.

Designed questionnaire were research program. With them were studied both the regulation of fertility in young families, and women's views about the ideal, desired and expected number of children per family. Total sociological survey covered 1,017 respondents aged less than 39 years.

Noted that the medical-demographic indicators in Astana for the period from 2001 to 2009 have improved significantly. The birth rate has increased from 10,3 ‰ to 24,4 ‰, the natural increase rose from 3,3 ‰ to 19,4 ‰, and fertility has increased in 2,5 times.

Age-sex pyramid of the population in Astana city shows the highest percentage of women in the age group 25-29 years - 11,6%. Also noted the relatively large number of girls aged 10-14 years (4.8%). Thus, in the next 7-8 years we can expect growth in the number of women age 20-29 years, which accounts for much of the births.

Revealed that in all the years of observation (2001 to 2009) coverage for contraception in Astana was higher than in the country as a whole. At the same time during these years, the frequency of abortions in the capital was significantly (sometimes 2 times) higher than the average figure. Found the inverse strong correlation between fertility and abortion rates (ρ=-0,93, m=0,14, t=6,70, which corresponds to the probability of error-free prediction of> 99.9%). The most common causes of abortion, the responses of the respondents were no registered marriage (25,3 response to 100 women interviewed) and financial difficulties (16,5).

The so-called "ideal" number of children became clear through the answer to the question: "How many children in the family you consider ideal?" The most women reported as the ideal number of children in the family - three (41,3%), slightly lower (33,0 %) supported the two children as the ideal option. Then were followed by women with the ideal number of four (13,0%), five (4.6) and one child (6.2%). Only 1,9% of respondents felt that ideally would not have preferred to have kids.

The average ideal number of children per family was 2,71 ± 0,19. Giving an interpretation of this magnitude, it should be noted that it’s a mathematical abstraction, since it’s impossible to present a family where the ideal number of children would be equal to this figure (number of children - the value of the discrete). Therefore, in this case for characterization and analysis of such average, modal option is applicable. Mode in this case is 3, since more than 40% of women believe the ideal family one in which three children. Thus, to describe women's views about the ideal number of children per family is advisable to use two quantities: the arithmetic average and mode.

Refuted the hypothesis that higher levels of education influences the lives and leads to the abandonment of children. The difference between the average values of the ideal number of women’s children with different levels of education was statistically insignificant (p> 0,05). It’s noted that in each age group of women clearly there is tendency of increasing the arithmetic average in the following direction: the average expected number of children, the average desired number and, finally, the average ideal number of children. The average expected number of children was 1,91 ± 0,03.

There is definite correlation between the ideal, desired and expected number of children with age. Calculated Spearman rank correlation revealed the following values of this coefficient (in order of sequence): ρ=0,40, ρ=1,0, ρ=1,0.

All indicators of reproductive units (expected, desired and ideal number of children) in most age groups was statistically more significant for women in registered marriages (p <0,05).

Considering the special status of Astana city as the capital and the most important social and cultural center of the country, we have developed criteria for reproductive health for women of fertile age. The draft Program “Medical and social support for young families of the capital of Kazakhstan” for 2012-2014 was developed to carry out activities to stimulate the birth rate in the capital of Republic. Implementation of the Program should contribute to improving the status of the family.

At present time, the most important tasks of demographic policy in Kazakhstan, and particularly in Astana, are:

• Study of reproductive attitudes of young people;

• Study of the mechanism of these attitudes and the factors, influencing to their formation;

• Develop specific measures to facilitate the implementation of reproductive plans.

Thus, the study of reproductive behavior should contribute to understanding and predicting trends in fertility in Kazakhstan, as well as the development of long-term concept of effective population and family policy.