Understanding fertility preferences: Insights from women and experts in North Khorasan, Iran

Background: Assessing fertility levels is considered one of the most critical indicators in population forecasting and reproductive health research. Therefore, this qualitative study was conducted to explore women’s and experts’ perspectives on childbearing, including the views of healthcare professionals, university faculty members, and sociologists, regarding factors influencing childbearing. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in ۲۰۲۵ in North Khorasan Province, Iran. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and included three groups: women with two or fewer children (n = ۳۵), women with more than two children (n = ۱۶), and experts in the field of childbearing (n = ۱۳). Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews and analyzed using MAXQDA ۱۰ software according to conventional content analysis procedures. Results: Analysis of the participants’ narratives identified four main themes influencing the decision to have more than two children: “gaining power, passive social acceptance, inefficiency of educational and health approaches, and a specific lifestyle pattern.” In contrast, rethinking the value of children and reconsidering fertility emerged as key factors influencing the decision to have fewer than two children. Conclusion: The findings indicate that fertility preferences are shaped by a complex interplay of social and personal factors. While empowerment, passive social acceptance, ineffective educational and health strategies, and lifestyle considerations tend to promote larger family sizes, reassessment of the value of children and fertility considerations support smaller family choices. These results highlight the need for tailored reproductive health policies and context-sensitive educational interventions to support informed decision-making and balanced population strategies.

کلیدواژه ها:

Childbearing ، Fertility ، Reproductive Health