Fertility Style and its Determinants in Iran and Islamic Countries: A Review Study

Background and Aim : Fertility style is the main factor in the population growth trend. The review of factors associated with the fertility style is a very complicated process since the interdependence of some factors grab the possibility of making a specific distinction between them. Regarding this, the present study aimed to investigate the most important factors in fertility style, including socio-economic factors, religious beliefs, government policies, and cultural factors. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on the articles on the most important factors in fertility style published within 1990-2016. The searching process was accomplished using several databases, including the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Google Scholar, PubMed, Psyc INFO, Thomson Reuters, SID, Cochrane and Medical Library. Findings: The search process resulted in the inclusion of 14 studies meeting the eligibility criteria. The findings of the reviewed studies revealed the positive and influential role of religious beliefs in the fertility style. The age at marriage and maternal age were the other effective factors in the fertility style. On the other hand, low economic status, high literacy and cultural activities had a negative relationship with childbearing. Conclusion : As the findings indicated, the achievement of the most appropriate growth path and a dynamic and balanced society requires an equilibrium and coordination between population growth and cultural, social, and economic development. Please cite this article as: Ghotbizadeh Vahdani F, Shariat M, Mohammadzadeh Y, Kaviani Z, Khalili M, Sahebi L. Fertility Style and its Determinants in Iran and Islamic Countries: A Review Study. Med Hist J 2017; 9(31): 63-74.