Determining the relationship between women's desire to have children and body image

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between women's desire to have a child and their body image. This descriptive and correlational study was conducted between May 2024 and September 2024 with 232 volunteer women who applied to the Emirseyit Family Health Center (ASM) in Tokat province for follow-up. They were healthy, married for at least one year, childless for at least three years after their last pregnancy, and in their fertile period. Data collection tools in the study included a Personal Information Form, the Desire to Have a Child Scale (DFSQ), and the Body Image Scale (BISQ). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 26. The mean age of the women was 34.52±5.67, and their BMI was 25.31±5.01. It was determined that 63.8% of the women had previous pregnancy experience, 77.6% used family planning methods, and 56.9% were planning or wanting to become pregnant in the future. Participants' total mean score on the CWBS was 57.16±9.1, and their total mean score on the BWBS was 136.99±20.15. As women's educational level and their spouse's educational level decrease, their desire to have children increases. As women's ages increase, their positive preferences for having children increase, while their BMI also increases, but their positive perception of body image decreases. As women's BMI increases, their desire to have children, positive childbearing motivations, and preferences for having children increase. However, as women's BMI increases, their positive perception of body image decreases. As women's total number of pregnancies, live births, and number of living children increase, their desire to have children, positive childbearing motivations, and preferences for having children increase. However, as participants' positive perception of body image increases, their total number of pregnancies, live births, and number of living children decrease. As women's positive childbearing motivations, preferences for having children, and social beliefs increase, their body image levels decrease. As women's positive body image perception increases, their desire to have children decreases. As women's body image, time since last pregnancy, and educational level increase, their desire to have children decreases. However, as their reluctance to use family planning (FP) methods increases, their desire to have children also increases.Women have a strong desire to have children and are observed to have a positive body image. Body image, BMI, education, time since last pregnancy, and use of family planning (FP) methods are significant predictors, explaining 85.2% of women's desire to have children. Body image, time since last pregnancy, and educational level negatively affect women's desire to have children. Professional support and counseling are recommended to increase women's desire to have children, strengthen their positive body image, and enable them to make informed and healthy choices.