• Ganesh Kumar Saya, Kariyarath Cheriyath Premarajan, Gautam Roy, Sonali Sarkar, Sitanshu Sekhar Kar, Revathi Ulaganeethi, and Jeby Jose Olickal.
• Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India.
• Afr Health Sci. 2021 Sep 1; 21 (3): 1385-1395.

BackgroundThere are paucity of studies on current fertility desire at community level.ObjectiveTo assess current fertility desire and its associated factors among eligible couples of reproductive age group in Puducherry, India.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study from 2016 to 2017 among 2228 currently married eligible couples assessed socio-demographic and fertility-related factors associated with fertility desire. Data were collected based on the National Family Health Survey questionnaire. Association of fertility desire was assessed by univariate and generalised linear regression analysis.ResultsOut of 1979 respondents, current fertility desire within two years was 13.7% (95% CI, 12.3%-15.3%). Mean number of children (SD) currently living and preferred was 1.77(0.851) and 2.11 (0.528) respectively. After adjusting for confounders, the significant factors positively associated with fertility desire include woman's age of 18-24 (APR = 2.91), 25-29 years (APR=2.48), 30-34 (APR=2.47), 35-39(APR=2.06), high socioeconomic status (APR=2.02), those without child (APR=52.35) and those with one child (APR=35.60).ConclusionThe fertility desire is comparatively lesser than other areas. Those without or with a single child and high socioeconomic status group had comparatively more fertility desire.© 2021 Saya GK et al.

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