FACTORS AFFECTING THE FERTILITY PREFERENCES IN IRANIAN ETHNIC GROUPS

The unprecedented reduction in fertility is one of the population problems of
countries, including Iran. This study aimed to assess factors affecting fertility preferences in women of
five Iranian ethnic groups.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 2114 women fertility age from 5
ethinc groups of Arabs, Kurds, Sistani & Baluchi, Turk and Turkmen in winter 2015. Data collection
tool was a questionnaire containing demographic and dependent variables related to fertility preferences;
its reliability and validity were confirmed. The data gathered and analyzed in software SPSS18.
Results: The mean age of samples was 37.6±4.3 years, and most women(44.9%) had primary education.
Almost 60% of women with reproductive capability had no desire for the next child. The main reasons
expressed reluctance to childbearing included: 28.5% aging, 24.4% economic problems and 19.0%
strong opposition from her husbands. Of 384 (16.5%) women who were willing to future pregnancies,
41.4% expressed their main reason as to have a boy and 20.1% tend to have a girl. The average of proper
number of children was different, ranged from 2.2±1.3 children in Kurdish group, to 3.6±1.5 children
in the Arab group. There was a significant difference between fertility preferences and different ethnic
groups (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that fertility preferences is different in various ethnic
groups and the important reasons for the reluctance to childbearing included increasing age in women,
economic problems and strong opposition from her husbands.