Fertility Desire and Related Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Iran: A Cross-sectional <span lang="EN-GB">Study

Background & aim: Developed societies have been grappling with population aging and declining fertility rates, prompting Iran to implement policies aimed at increasing fertility. However, research on fertility desire among women of reproductive age in Iran, remained limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate fertility desire and its related factors in women of reproductive age.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on ۴۰۰ women of reproductive age in Kashan, Iran, between ۲۰۲۳ and ۲۰۲۴, using a multistage sampling method. Data were collected using a four-part questionnaire: demographic characteristics, fertility desire, fertility health awareness, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, independent t-tests, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression in SPSS (version ۲۴).Results: The mean score for participants’ fertility desire was ۴۴.۹±۷.۲ (۲۲-۶۱). There was a significant difference in fertility desire scores based on age, age at marriage, participants and spouses’ employment status, participants and spouses’ educational level, economic status, and number of pregnancies. Linear regression analysis showed that age (P<۰.۰۰۱), self-assessment of economic status (P<۰.۰۰۱), fertility health awareness (P<۰.۰۰۱), and perceived social support (P=۰.۰۰۳) predicted and explained ۲۹% of the variance in fertility desire (R^۲=۰.۲۹).Conclusion: Approximately two-thirds of the women reported a moderate fertility desire. These findings offer policymakers and fertility specialists valuable insight into the key determinants of women’s fertility desire. Improving fertility health awareness, social support, and economic conditions may contribute to promoting a younger population structure in Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

Fertility ، Women ، Reproductive age ، Desire ، Iran