Religious Affiliation and Fertility in Vietnam: Exploring Desire for Additional Children and Actual Fertility

Abstract

The authors investigate the relationship between reported religious affiliation and fertility among reproductive-age women in Vietnam using the nationally representative 2014 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. Fertility includes (1) desire for additional children and (2) the hazard of having the next birth on the basis of actual fertility. The results of probit regression and survival analysis show that Christian women have a higher desire for additional children and actual fertility compared with those with no religious affiliation. In contrast, Buddhist affiliation is not significantly associated with both fertility behaviors. In addition to demonstrating the connection between religion and fertility decisions, this study shows that son preference is still prevalent in Vietnam and that both religion and son preference are significant determinants of fertility. The findings have implications for family planning policies.