Background and purpose: Fertility is a key demographic factor influencing population fluctuations. There is a global trend toward delaying childbearing, and Iran is also undergoing significant changes in this regard. This review study examines the factors influencing childbearing and associated obstacles from 2010 to 2022.
Materials and methods: This systematic review utilized PubMed, Scopus, SID, and Web of Science databases to analyze articles published in both Farsi and English from 2010 to 2022. The keywords in both Persian and English included childbearing, attitude, women, reasons, fertility, and obstacles. All studies related to obstacles and factors influencing childbearing published in English between 2010 and 2022 and in Persian up to 2022 were included. In this review, the population (P2) refers to married women, intervention (I3) to the effective factors, comparison (C4) is not applicable given this study's reporting nature, and outcome (O5) refers to childbearing. The search within each database was conducted using title searches, with standardized MeSH terms such as childbearing, attitudes, women, reasons, fertility, and obstacles, combined with operators (e.g., AND, OR) to ensure comprehensive retrieval.
Results: The search yielded 1,254 articles, of which 36 met the inclusion criteria after applying entry conditions, availability of article files, and removing duplicates. Factors such as social and cultural status, urban versus rural residence, educational level, and individuals’ religious and ethnic beliefs significantly impact couples’ decision-making regarding childbearing. Additionally, governmental policies, including support for pregnant mothers, play an influential role.
Conclusion: Analysis of the 1,254 articles showed that economic, social, and cultural factors are significant social determinants of fertility. Ethnic background, education level, family orientation, religiosity, age at marriage, government policies, place of residence, and occupational status were identified as factors influencing childbearing. Religious and traditional values tend to increase fertility rates, especially among families with lower socioeconomic status. Educational programs aimed at improving beliefs and attitudes, promoting positive social norms, and strengthening empowerment skills may significantly enhance Iranian women’s reproductive intentions and behaviors. The findings of this study provide guidance for health policymakers in addressing obstacles to childbearing and supporting population growth in Iran. Additionally, by fostering favorable socio-economic conditions and recognizing diverse fertility behaviors across regions and cultures, reproductive health and pregnancy programs can better align with population growth policies.