In the final decade of the 20th century, reproductive behaviour in the Czech Republic underwent significant changes, which were manifested in, among other things, a decline in the birth rate. Views on the ideal number of children in a family have, conversely, remained consistent in the population over time, and the ideal of the two-child model has been repeatedly identified in sociological studies over the long term. Given the currently very low fertility rate and the continued postponement of childbirth to a later age, it is important to ask whether the proclaimed aspirations for a two-child family will be fulfilled and whether the tendency will be for women to actually have a second child. This article focuses on values associated with children and especially selected factors connected with the decision to have a second child, including an evaluation of the factors that women take into consideration when deciding to have more children. The analysis is based on data from the survey Men and Women in the Czech Republic: Life Courses and Inter-generational Relationships (GGS: Generations and Gender Survey), the first wave of which was conducted in the Czech Republic in 2005, and for the analysis focusing on a second child in the family selected generations of women were chosen.
The article tackles the phenomenon of the one-child family in the Czech Republic. The authors try to answer the question of whether it is possible to expect that a significant proportion of Czech fertility intentions will be fulfilled when families conceive and give birth to an only child. Can it be assumed that one-child families will be a significant phenomenon in Czech society in the years to come? To answer the questions the authors used two different datasets in the analysis. The article includes a description of the socio-demographic characteristics of people who have or intend to have just one child. They then proceed to present some of the covariates that determine whether people have or intend to have one child in comparison with those who have other fertility intentions. Some of the findings indicate that it is likely that about 20-25% of women who finish their reproductive period within the next two decades will have only one child. The results indicate that being an only child increases the chances of intending to and having only one child. The opposite effect can be noticed when the place of residence is considered - living in small towns and rural areas may have a negative influence on the decision to have only one child.