Social norms related to fertility may be driving pregnancy desire, timing and contraceptive use, but measurement has lagged. We validated a 10-item injunctive Fertility Norms Scale (FNS) and examined its associations with family planning outcomes among 1021 women and 1020 men in India. FNS captured expectations around pronatalism, childbearing early in marriage and community pressure. We assessed reliability and construct validity through Cronbach's alpha and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) respectively, examining associations with childbearing intention and contraceptive use. FNS demonstrated good reliability (α = 0.65–0.71) and differing sub-constructs by gender. High fertility norm among women was associated with greater likelihood of pregnancy intention [RRR = 2.35 (95% CI: 1.25,4.39); ARRR = 1.53 (95% CI: 0.70,3.30)], lower likelihood of delaying pregnancy [RRR = 0.69 (95% CI: 0.50,0.96); ARRR = 0.72 (95% CI: 0.51,1.02)] and greater ambivalence on delaying pregnancy [RRR = 1.92 (95% CI: 1.18,3.14); ARRR = 1.99 (95% CI: 1.21,3.28)]. Women's higher FNS scores were also associated with higher sterilization [RRR = 2.17 (95% CI: 1.28,3.66); ARRR = 2.24 (95% CI: 1.32,3.83)], but the reverse was noted for men [RRR = 0.61 (95% CI: 0.36,1.04); ARRR = 0.54 (95% CI: 0.32,0.94)]. FNS indicated better predictive value among women compared to men for key reproductive outcomes. This measure may be useful for social norms-focused evaluations in family planning and warrants cross-contextual study.

中文翻译：

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印度生育率标准量表的验证以及与生育意愿和避孕药具使用的关联

与生育相关的社会规范可能正在推动怀孕欲望、时间安排和避孕药具的使用，但测量滞后。我们验证了 10 项强制性生育标准量表 (FNS)，并检查了其与印度 1021 名女性和 1020 名男性的计划生育结果之间的关联。FNS 捕获了围绕生育率、早婚生育和社区压力的期望。我们分别通过 Cronbach 的 alpha 和探索性因素分析 (EFA) 评估了可靠性和结构有效性，检查了与生育意愿和避孕药具使用的关联。FNS 表现出良好的可靠性 (α = 0.65–0.71) 和不同性别的子结构。女性的高生育率常态与更高的妊娠意向可能性相关[RRR = 2.35 (95% CI: 1.25,4.39)；ARRR = 1.53 (95% CI: 0.70,3.30)], 延迟怀孕的可能性较低 [RRR = 0.69 (95% CI: 0.50,0.96)]；ARRR = 0.72 (95% CI: 0.51,1.02)] 并且对延迟怀孕的矛盾心理更大[RRR = 1.92 (95% CI: 1.18,3.14); ARRR = 1.99 (95% CI: 1.21,3.28)]。女性较高的 FNS 评分也与较高的绝育率相关 [RRR = 2.17 (95% CI: 1.28,3.66)；ARRR = 2.24 (95% CI: 1.32,3.83)]，但男性则相反 [RRR = 0.61 (95% CI: 0.36,1.04)；ARRR = 0.54 (95% CI: 0.32,0.94)]。FNS 表明与男性相比，女性对关键生殖结果具有更好的预测价值。该措施可能对计划生育中以社会规范为中心的评估有用，并需要进行跨背景研究。99 (95% CI: 1.21,3.28)]。女性较高的 FNS 评分也与较高的绝育率相关 [RRR = 2.17 (95% CI: 1.28,3.66)；ARRR = 2.24 (95% CI: 1.32,3.83)]，但男性则相反 [RRR = 0.61 (95% CI: 0.36,1.04)；ARRR = 0.54 (95% CI: 0.32,0.94)]。FNS 表明与男性相比，女性对关键生殖结果具有更好的预测价值。该措施可能对计划生育中以社会规范为中心的评估有用，并需要进行跨背景研究。99 (95% CI: 1.21,3.28)]。女性较高的 FNS 评分也与较高的绝育率相关 [RRR = 2.17 (95% CI: 1.28,3.66)；ARRR = 2.24 (95% CI: 1.32,3.83)]，但男性则相反 [RRR = 0.61 (95% CI: 0.36,1.04)；ARRR = 0.54 (95% CI: 0.32,0.94)]。FNS 表明与男性相比，女性对关键生殖结果具有更好的预测价值。该措施可能对计划生育中以社会规范为中心的评估有用，并需要进行跨背景研究。