Factors affecting childbearing decision making among Iranian couples: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT

Objective. Childbearing decision-making is a complex process involving many social, economic, political, and individual factors. This study aimed to identify effective factors on the childbearing intention among Iranian couples.
Patients and Methods. This qualitative study was conducted on 15 Iranian couples using a conventional content analysis during 2017-2018. The data was collected using in-depth, semi-structured, individual interviews and analyzed in five steps using the Graneheim and Lundman (2004) approach.
Results. The data were categorized into four main sets, including couple capability (financial stability, housing condition, and graduation), parenting attitudes (paternal and maternal feelings, emotional support, social support, and age role), couple interactions (satisfactory relationships, collaboration, and cooperation), and childbearing experiences (friends and relatives childbearing experiences, and first child experiences).
Conclusions. Factors affecting the couple’s childbearing decision were multi-dimension in this social context. These key factors may contribute policymakers in developing beneficial policies in each community to facilitate childbearing among couples.