Background: Recently, the relevance of social interactions as determinants of
behavioral intentions has been increasingly perceived, but there is a lack of
knowledge on how and why it interacts with couples’ fertility intentions.
Objective: This qualitative study was conducted to explore the influence of social
network on couples’ intention to have their first child in urban society of Mashhad,
Iran in 2011.
Materials and Methods: In this exploratory qualitative study in-depth interviews
were conducted with 24 participants including 14 fertile women, two parents, three
husbands and five midwives and health care providers. The sample was selected
purposively in urban health centers, homes and workplaces until data saturation was
achieved. Data analysis was carried out adopting conventional content analysis
approach through giving analytical codes and identification of categories using
MAXqda software. Study rigor verified via prolonged engagement, validation of
codes through member check and peer debriefing.
Results: Findings from data analysis demonstrated four major categories about
social network’s influence on couples’ intention to have their first child including 1)
perception of fertility relevant social network, 2) occurrence of various types of
social influence 3) subjective judgment to the benefits of social network and its
fitness to personal life, and 4) couples’ interaction with social network.
Conclusion: Managing the fertility behaviors need to include the consideration of
personal social networks surrounding the couples. It is important to apply the study
findings in providing family planning services and dissemination of appropriate
fertility behaviors through community-based reproductive health care delivery
system