Individual and provincial characteristics associated with reproductive behavior of married women in Iran (2011)

Background: Fertility in the current situation is the most important determinant of a country's population increase rate. Iran's fertility rate has declined since the mid 1981’s, and has reached a relative stability below the replacement level in recent years. However, the fertility levels are different among provinces in the country.

Methods: The present study investigated the reproductive behavior of women at both individual and provincial levels, so the two-level model was used. Data were adapted from the census in 2011 and Demographic and Health Surveys in 2010. The statistical population of the study was the 15-49 year-old married women in Iran and the study sample included 299,539 woman of the statistical population.

Results: The results showed significant differences among the provinces in terms of the variance of the number of children born alive. Residence, employment status and educational status had significant effects on the number of children born. Moreover, the two-level variables (The mean age of women in the first marriage, contraception prevalence and development level by province) had a significant effect on the slope of education and employment status.

Conclusion: A convergence of fertility behavior has been initiated in the Iranian women, and the difference between some provinces is influenced by the development level of the given provinces. Other variables (such as education and employment status) that affect women’s reproductive behavior are influenced by the development level of the province.