The impact of household structure on fertility: A study in Vietnam

BACKGROUND: A declining fertility rate and aging population are major challenges for Vietnam. METHODS: This study utilizes panel data from the Vietnam Access to Resources Household Survey, conducted from 2008 to 2016, tracking 1,200 households over nine years. A fixed effects model was employed to control for unobserved factors, such as cultural traditions and fertility motivations, thereby addressing endogeneity issues commonly encountered in previous research. RESULTS: The results indicate that the presence of grandparent(s) in a household has a positive impact on the number of children born (particularly when both grandparents are present), with estimates ranging from 0.0771 (95% CI: 0.0175 to 0.1368) for both grandparents to 0.1373 (95% CI: 0.0824 to 0.1922) overall. This effect is especially prominent in the Central Highlands and the Northern Midlands/Mountainous Area. In contrast, the effect is less pronounced in the Mekong River Delta, likely due to socioeconomic factors and data limitations. CONTRIBUTION: This study highlights the importance of household structure in shaping fertility behavior and provides policy recommendations to support multigenerational households and promote sustainable fertility rates in Vietnam.