PERCEPTION, ATTITUDE AND INTENTION TO HAVING CHILDREN OF YOUNG COUPLE WITHOUT CHILDREN IN THU DUC CITY AND BINH CHANH DISTRICT HO CHI MINH CITY

Abstract

In the last two decades, Ho Chi Minh City has been in a trend of fertility decline. The paper explores young couples’ intention to have children, their perception of becoming parents, their attitudes about children's values and their understanding of reproduction. Data were collected from a structured questionnaire with a sample size of 30 young couples without children in Thu Duc city and Binh Chanh district - Ho Chi Minh City. Research findings show that the necessary conditions to have a baby or become parents involve job, economy, knowledge, and personal conditions, life partner and social norms. Life changes due to childbirth are not considered major changes and not just negative ones. Young couples have a positive attitude towards the value of children. Although they wish to have children in the near future, they have incorrect understanding of time related to possibility of conception. These are suggestions to contribute to the city's population and reproductive health care policies in the coming time