Table 2 The characteristic of the selected studies through systematic search
Row | First author's name (year) | Study title | Place | Study design | Setting/ participants | Findings | Quality appraisal status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hosseinpoor, M. 2016 [10] | An Analysis on Views of Iranian Women about Incentive Policies on Childbearing Decision-making | Iran | descriptive-analytic cross-sectional Survey | stratified sampling 662 women between the ages of 15 and 49 years | □ Considering pension insurance for housewives □ Women are more inclined than men □ Family income rate □ Number of children | 11/20 |
2 | Li, X. H. 2019 [1] | Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior to couples’ fertility decision-making in Inner Mongolia, China | China | facility-based cross-sectional survey | sample size required for this study was 1,305 | □ Attitudes: that only healthy parents can have children □ Adequate arrangements to support maternity and parental leave □ Perceived behavior control (the perceived importance of having a fixed income and the cost of raising children) □ Subjective norms (perceived social pressure regarding the baby’s sexual preference by themselves and their partners) | 16/20 |
3 | Hashemzadeh, M. 2021 [8] | Childbearing intention and its associated factors: A systematic review | Iran | A systematic review | none | □ Ecological factors in the following four levels: □ Macro system: culture, family policies, religiosity, child value, teachings of individualism □ Microsystem: socio-demographic characteristics (age, education, financial status), physical and mental health, happiness (desire of the child) □ Mesosystem: marital status, equality, participation satisfaction, gender role awareness, family and peer network □ Exo system: job characteristics and urban residence, housing situation | 6/11 |
4 | Adhikari, R. 2010 [23] | Demographic, socio-economic, and cultural factors affecting fertility differentials in Nepal | Nepalese | nationally cross-sectional Survey | Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) married women of reproductive age (8,644) | □ Age at first marriage □ Perceived ideal number of children □ Mass media exposure □ Literacy status | 14/20 |
5 | Chen, M. N. 2017 [24] | The Discrepancy Between Ideal and Actual Parity in Hong Kong: Fertility Desire, Intention, and Behavior | Hong Kong | cross-sectional Survey | married or cohabiting women aged 15–49 and their spouses. 1029 couples | □ Satisfaction with married life □ Household income □ Good communication with husbands □ Good income and healthy marriage are prerequisites for having children | 15/20 |
6 | Khedmat, L. 2022 [9] | Factors affecting childbearing decision making among Iranian couples: a qualitative study | Iran | qualitative study | 15 Iranian couples using a conventional content analysis | □ Factors affecting the intention to have children into four main categories: □ Ability of couples □ Parental attitudes □ Couple interactions □ Childbearing experiences | 7/9 |
7 | Sabermahani, A. 2017 [2] | Factors Affecting Fertility Rate in Iran (Panel Data 1966-2013): A Survey Study | Iran | descriptive-analytic study combination of cross-sectional and time series data | data were extracted from all residents of country differentiated by 24 and from statistical yearbooks of Statistical Center of Iran | □ Creating conditions for marriage by reducing unemployment □ Marriage is the main and most important factor affecting the fertility rate □ Educated women emphasize more on the quality of their children than their quantity | 14/20 |
8 | Aghoozi, M. F. 2020 [25] | Factors Affecting the First Childbearing Decision in Iranian Males | Iran | analytical cross-sectional study | 300 married men aged 18-45 years | □ Marriage age of men □ Quality of life | 16/20 |
9 | Moradi, M. 2017 [26] | The factors associated with childbearing intentions in Iranian female University students | Iran | cross-sectional study | randomly examined 294 female students of Shahid Beheshti University | □ Personal factors □ Family factors □ The role of the wife □ Perceived social support and financial factors □ Beliefs | 16/20 |
10 | Lee, M. J. 2017 [13] | Factors contributing to childbearing intentions of married working women in Korea | Korea | cross-sectional study | sing the 2012 National Survey a total of 1,408 respondents were selected based on marriage, work and age | □ Gender equality and shared child care with spouse □ Income level □ Government support for child care and support at work | 15/20 |
11 | Araban, M. 2020 [4] | Factors related to childbearing intentions among women: a cross-sectional study in health centers, Saveh, Iran | Iran | A cross-sectional study | A total of 483 married women 15–49 years old participated in this study | □ Psychological factors such as marital satisfaction □ Social support □ Attitude □ Social norms □ Hope, perceived social support and marital satisfaction | 17/20 |
12 | Lui, L. K. 2021 [3] | Family policies, social norms and marital fertility decisions: A quasi-experimental study | Hong Kong | household survey quasi-experimental design | sample size of 1,000 married adults aged under 40 | □ Policies that reduce time constraints between work and family □ Paid/unpaid parental leave law and working hours) □ Financial expenses (providing child care, allowance and housing allowance) | 16/20 |
13 | Karabchuk, T. 2022 [5] | Fertility attitudes of highly educated youth: A factorial survey | five countries | A factorial survey | Data were collected from Germany, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) | □ Income □ Availability of childcare □ Full employment of the husband □ Child friendly policies | 14/20 |
14 | Kan, M. Y. 2019 [27] | Housework share and fertility preference in four East Asian countries in 2006 and 2012 | Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan | 2006 East Asian Social Survey (EASS) and the 2012 International Social Survey Program | married couples where women were over 20 and under 45 years of age (N = 6,410: China n = 3,635, Japan n = 736, Korea n = 928, Taiwan n = 1,111). | □ Gender equal division of household labor in East Asia is associated with higher fertility intentions in this region □ The number of ideal children of women whose husbands participate in housework is more | 13/20 |
15 | Rosniza Aznie, C. R. 2013 [14] | Identifying potential factors of ideal childbearing among Malay women in Terengganu | Malaysia | survey | ample size was 348 | □ Age of first marriage □ Health factors □ Type of work | 11/20 |
16 | Rahman, A. 2020 [16] | Influencing Factors of Fertility in Developing Countries: Evidence from 16 DHS Data | 16 different countries’ | demographic and health survey data | women residing in developing countries | □ Women’s age and age at first marriage □ Education □ Urbanization leads to decrease in fertility □ Women’s wealth index □ Body mass index | 15/20 |
17 | Soltanian, A. 2019 [11] | Modeling the Factors Affecting the First Birth in the Family’s’ Fertility in Hamedan Province | Iran | cross-sectional (descriptive-analytic) study | married woman in the age group of 15 to 49 years in 500 families in Hamedan | □ Parent education □ Employment of women □ Use of preventive measures □ Raising the level of community awareness | 16/20 |
18 | Bagheri, A. 2019 [28] | Modelling Childbearing Desire: Comparison of Logistic Regression and Classification Tree Approaches | Iran | survey | 4898 women for childbearing in provinces with a TFR lower | □ Adopting policies to change women’s views on childbearing □ Creating the necessary resources to avoid delay in marriage □ Their opinion about having children | 16/20 |
19 | Wei, J. Q. 2018 [7] | Socioeconomic determinants of rural women’s desired fertility: A survey in rural Shaanxi, China | China | cross-sectional survey | The targeted population was married women of childbearing age (20–49) with a rural household identification 2,516 | □ Cultural view of rural women towards fertility □ Major economic factors including social security coverage for the elderly □ Direct costs of having a child | 18/20 |
20 | Soderberg, M. 2015 [17] | Women’s attitudes towards fertility and childbearing - A study based on a national sample of Swedish women validating the Attitudes to Fertility and Childbearing Scale (AFCS) | Sweden | A study based on a national sample of Swedish women validating the Attitudes to Fertility and Childbearing Scale | women in Sweden who are 20–30 years Four hundred and twenty-four women, 20–30 years | □ Age □ Job □ Residential area □ Marital status | 16/20 |
21 | Kariman, N. 2016 [29] | A Path Analysis of Factors Influencing the First Childbearing Decision-Making in Women in Shahroud in 2014 | Iran | cross-sectional study | y was conducted on 300 eligible pregnant women admitted to healthcare centers | □ Individual factors (marriage age, hope and quality of life) □ Family factors (marital satisfaction) □ Social factors (social support) □ Marriage age, marital satisfaction, social support, economic status, hope and quality of life | 18/20 |
22 | Hashemzadeh, M. 2022 [12] | Principal factors affecting couples’ childbearing policies: A roadmap for policymaking | Iran | descriptive cross-sectional study | 300 couples Of the 360 questionnaires, 60 incomplete forms were removed and 300 filled questionnaires were considered | □ Family policies include: □ Supporting couples to integrate work and home □ Health promotion programs □ Social support of missing child □ Improving the level of social and cultural relations | 16/20 |
23 | Kiani, M. 2011 [30] | Women’s attitude to fertility in Iran: A case study in Isfahan, Iran | Iran | survey | 300 people were studied women are 20–45 years | □ Length of married life □ Male marriage age □ Job □ Education | 11/20 |
24 | Ahinkorah, B. O. 2021 [15] | Which factors predict fertility intentions of married men and women? Results from the 2012 Niger Demographic and Health Survey | Niger Demographic and Health Survey | survey | total of 2,186 childbearing men and 5,969 childbearing women aged 25–59 and 25–49 respectively adolescents and young women aged 15–24 were excluded. | □ Socio-economic and demographic factors □ Prevalence of desire for fertility is higher among men than women | 15/20 |
25 | Boivin, J. 2018 [31] | What makes people ready to conceive? Findings from the International Fertility Decision-Making Study | 79 countries | cross-sectional survey | 10,045 participants (1690 men and 8355 women) from 79 countries. Respondents were aged 18-50 years (mean 31.8 years). | □ Women had a higher personal desire to have children and evaluated economic, personal and relational preparation as more effective □ Males were more likely to evaluate the mental norms and social status of parents as more influential □ Personal desire for the child □ Desire of the partner for the child □ Need for parents □ Motivational forces and mental norms | 18/20 |
26 | Evens, E. 2015 [6] | Identifying factors that influence pregnancy intentions: evidence from South Africa and Malawi | South Africa and Malawi | qualitative analysis | Data from a total of 199 women is included here, 113 in FGDs and 86 in SSIs | □ Social norms during pregnancy □ HIV related concerns □ Partnership status and relationship quality □ Available financial resources □ Demographic characteristics □ Mother’s attitude and experiences towards pregnancy | 8/9 |
27 | Holton, S. 2011 [32] | To have or not to have? Australian women’s childbearing desires, expectations and outcomes | Australia | a cross-sectional survey | 569 30–34-years-old Australian women randomly selected | □ Various biological, psychological and social factors □ Costs of women having children | 16/20 |
28 | Chen, P. L. 2021 [33] | A new model for evaluating the influence of social networks, social learning, and supportive policies on the desire of women for fertility | Iran | cross- sectional | From 384 users of Telegram data are collected | □ Social networks are meaningful and positive on social learning □ The role of social learning and supportive policies on women’s desire for positive fertility | 15/20 |
29 | Pan, J. N. 2020 [34] | The impact of economic uncertainty on the decision of fertility: Evidence from Taiwan | Taiwan | cross- sectional | official county-level panel data of 20 counties and cities over the 1998–2016 period in Taiwan Family Income and Expenditure (1998–2016) published by the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) | □ Economic uncertainty □ Higher social welfare costs □ Comprehensive maternity subsidy policy □ Fluctuations in household disposable income □ Unemployment rate and aging | 8/20 |
30 | Kaboudi, Marzieh 2013 [35] | The decision-making process of childbearing: a qualitative study | Iran | quantitative methods | In-depth interviews were carried out with 20 married women and 14 married men. 34 | □ Understanding the amount of control the mother has over the conditions after childbirth | 6/9 |
31 | Samani, Leila 2020 [36] | The Influence of Legal Supports of Working Women during Pregnancy and Lactation Period on Their Desire to Have Children | Iran | correlational-descriptive | Working women of Fasa Medical Society women 80 | □ Legal protection of the government for working women □ Employment conditions □ Organizational facilities and maternity leave | 6/20 |
32 | Dorahaki, Ahmad 2021 [37] | Explanation of Psychosocial Factors Affecting Fertility Behavior: Study of Fertility Behavior Among Married Women Aged 15 to 49 in Nasimshar | Iran | cross- sectional | Data were collected based on surveys on 304 married women aged 15 to 49 in Nasimshahr. Sample is selected whit multistage cluster. | □ Lowering the age of marriage □ Improvement of economic conditions □ Reducing the cost of living for households □ Emotional need for the child | 15/20 |
33 | Begi, Milad 2022 [38] | Desire to childbearing in Iran: determinants and barriers | Iran | Survey | Married women of reproductive age (15-49 years old) and men whose wives are of reproductive age. Finally, information related to 2118 people living in urban areas of 31 provinces of the country was analyzed | □ Religious beliefs □ Satisfaction with life and marital relationship | 12/20 |
34 | Haerimehrizi, Ali Asghar 2017 [39] | Reasons for fertility desire and disinterest among Iranian married adults: A population-based study | Iran | cross- sectional population -based study | A total of 20,935 married citizens from all over Iran In all 20935 individuals (10388 male and 10547 female) | □ Parents’ interest in having children □ Strengthening social economic infrastructure | 8/20 |
35 | Bagheri, A. 2017 [40] | Identification of fertility preferences determinants using poisson regression | Iran | Cross-sectional survey | In 2012, 389 ever married women aged 15-49 with two-stage stratified sampling method | □ Number of children born alive □ job status (employment) □ Education level □ Type of marriage □ Residence | 13/20 |
36 | Alidousti, Ezddin 2021 [41] | Socio-economic factors affecting attitudes towards childbearing: A study of ever married couples in Kermanshah, Iran | Iran | Survey | The sample comprised of 374 ever married men and women aged 15 -49 in Kermanshah, Iran. clustered sampling | □ Gender preference □ Ideal age gap between children □ Duration of Internet use □ Distance from marriage to first child | 13/20 |
37 | Rahnama, Ameneh 2022 [42] | Factors Related to Childbearing in Iran: A Systematic Review | Iran | A Systematic Review | A Systematic Review | □ Employment status and job grade □ Marriage age □ Education level □ Social economic conditions □ having a religion □ Family orientation | 5/11 |
38 | Abbasi, Amene 2022 [43] | A Meta-Analysis of Factors Related to Fertility Attitudes , Desires , and Childbearing Intentions in Iranian Studies | Iran | A Meta-Analysis | 6 articles have been reviewed between 1389 and 1398. 16 articles have investigated the fruitfulness and 10 articles have investigated the attitudes of students. | □ Age □ Rural residence □ Income □ having a religion □ Social support □ Number of siblings □ Quality of life | 9/11 |
39 | Tavousi, Mahmoud 2016 [44] | Fertility desire among Iranians living in Tehran: reasons for desire and disintere | Iran | population -based study | A sample of married individuals living in all 22 districts in Tehran : In all 1200 individuals (600 male and 600 female) | □ The natural interest of people to acquire the status and role of parents □ Promoting a positive experience of parenthood | 11/20 |
40 | Torkian Valashani, Sahebjan 2019 [45] | Fertility desire: Facilitators and inhibitors | Iran | cross -sectional study | A total of 400 married individuals were entered into the study A simple random image is available | □ Lowering the cost of infertility treatment □ Belief in the role of the child in strengthening the family □ Belief in the usefulness of children in old age | 11/20 |
41 | Ayazi, Rozita (2021) [46] | Factors Related to Childbearing Willingness in the Women Attending the Health Centers in Arak, Iran (2019) | Iran | cross-sectional study | 255 women aged 18-45 years from 10 health centers in Arak city | a direct relationship can be concluded between the variables of social participation, economic status, marital satisfaction, childbearing problems with childbearing unwillingness in women referring to Arak health centers at 95% confidence interval. | |
42 | Erfani, Amir (2019) [47] | Reasons for intending to have no children in Tehran, Iran | Iran | cross -sectional study (interviewing respondents face-to-face with a structured questionnaire) | married men and women under aged 36 living in 22 districts of the city of Tehran ( n = 2267) | the most important reasons for not wanting any [48] children: □ “Not being able to afford the cost of raising children” (27%), □ “Having the desired number of children” (25%), □ “being worry about the future of their children” (15%) as □ “conflict of childbearing with own personal life, plans and interests” (16%), □ “spouse’s opposition” (6%) □ “problems in spousal relationships” (2%) | |
43 | Gaffari, Fatemeh (2021) [49] | Factors Affecting Childbearing Based On Women’s Perspectives: A Qualitative Study | Iran | Qualitative Study (semi-structured interviews) | 25 women of reproductive age from health centers in Mashhad | Negative factors on childbearing: □ economic problems (the most effective factor in childbearing) □ Fear of social insecurity □ Positive factors on childbearing: □ cultural factors such as the age of marriage □ religious factors such as trusting God with child’s aliment Also, the government’s incentive and restrictive policies to increase fertility are effective in childbearing | |
44 | Mobasheri, Mahmood (2013) [50] | Determination of the Most Important Factors Influencing the Fertility Patterns of Single Child and Without Child Families in Shahr-e-kord City in 2013 | Iran | cross-sectional study | 180 married women | □ There was a significant direct relationship between the score of attitude and age, age at the time of marriage, duration of marriage and education with childbearing desire. □ Causes of disinclined to childbearing were noted by the highest percentage of participants (83.3%) as increase in costs and economic pressures and by the lowest percentage of participants (8.3%) as fear of recurrent miscarriage and stillbirth. | |
45 | Nematian, Sareh (2021) [51] | The Impact of Couples’ Decision-Making Process in Delayed Childbearing and Related Social Conditions | Iran | Qualitative study; narrative interviews | eight couples (who are not willing to have child even a few years after their marriage) | □ Couples’ economic situation, social network, relationship with each other, as well as their personal purposes and motivation had a significant role in decision-making process about postponing childbearing. | |
46 | Vahdani, Fahimeh (2018) [52] | Fertility Style and its Determinants in Iran and Islamic Countries : A Review Study | Iran | Review Study | 14 selected studies | □ Religious beliefs, the age at marriage and maternal age were positive factors in the fertility style. □ Low economic status, high literacy and cultural activities had a negative relationship with childbearing. |