Child bearing
Couples marry and plan to bear children. The ability of couples to have children is determined by
three factors:
1. Fecundity means the biological capacity of a man or a woman to have children at a future time. It is
estimated by ascertaining the reproductive limits of a person.
2. Fertility is the realization of the reproductive potential or fecundity. It is the actual birth performance
as measured by the number of offspring
3. Sterility/Infertility means the inability to have children.
Biological factors
The biological factors that affect conception and childbearing include the following
1. Heredity - If one comes from a family that is fecund/fertile, changes are he/she will be fecund or
fertile.
2. Health - When one is in a state of good health, he or she has the highest posible fecundity/fertility.
3. Age - Reproductive is a functions primarily of young adults. It declines in the middle age.
4. Ovulation cycle - A woman produces ovaperiodically. The release of the ovum from one of the ovary is
called ovulation.
5. Lactation - It is breast production of milk that delays conception by preventing ovulation and hence
menstruation occurs.
6. Pregnancy wastage - It includes the following:
A. Miscarriage refers to the expulsion of the fetus from the fourth to the sixth months of pregnancy.
B. Spontaneous abortion is the emptying of the pregnant uterus long before the fetus from the survive
by itself during the first three months of pregnancy.
C. Still birth occurs when the fetus dies in the mother's womb before it is delivered.
Psychological factor
Psychological factor has something to do with beliefs and attitudes of men and women favoring
many children of large family size. These includes the following:
• Parenthood means fulfillment
Couples marry and plan to bear children. The ability of couples to have children is determined by
three factors:
1. Fecundity means the biological capacity of a man or a woman to have children at a future time. It is
estimated by ascertaining the reproductive limits of a person.
2. Fertility is the realization of the reproductive potential or fecundity. It is the actual birth performance
as measured by the number of offspring
3. Sterility/Infertility means the inability to have children.
Biological factors
The biological factors that affect conception and childbearing include the following
1. Heredity - If one comes from a family that is fecund/fertile, changes are he/she will be fecund or
fertile.
2. Health - When one is in a state of good health, he or she has the highest posible fecundity/fertility.
3. Age - Reproductive is a functions primarily of young adults. It declines in the middle age.
4. Ovulation cycle - A woman produces ovaperiodically. The release of the ovum from one of the ovary is
called ovulation.
5. Lactation - It is breast production of milk that delays conception by preventing ovulation and hence
menstruation occurs.
6. Pregnancy wastage - It includes the following:
A. Miscarriage refers to the expulsion of the fetus from the fourth to the sixth months of pregnancy.
B. Spontaneous abortion is the emptying of the pregnant uterus long before the fetus from the survive
by itself during the first three months of pregnancy.
C. Still birth occurs when the fetus dies in the mother's womb before it is delivered.
Psychological factor
Psychological factor has something to do with beliefs and attitudes of men and women favoring
many children of large family size. These includes the following:
• Parenthood means fulfillment
