Patterns of marriage and reproductive practices: is there any relationship?

Abstract

Today, a transition from traditional to modern marriages can be observed in many countries. This shift in patterns of marriage has evidently affected childbearing and reproductive practices. This study aimed to examine the relationship between patterns of marriage and reproductive practices in Iran. Hence, 880 married women, aged 15–49 years old, living in the North of Iran were selected using a multi-stage cluster sampling strategy and their patterns of marriage and reproductive practices were cross sectionally studied. The results revealed that there were no significant differences in the reproductive practices by three main patterns of marriage in Babol, Iran. The study also indicated that there were no significant differences in reproductive practices in three patterns of marriage after controlling for socio-economic variables. It seems that apart from the patterns of marriage, other influencing factors are the determinants of fertility in women, and the policy-makers of Iran need to pay attention to these determinants before making any decisions in this area.

Keywords:

• Patterns of marriage
• reproductive practice
• fertility determinants

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the authorities of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Babol University of Medical Sciences for their support [grant No. 92-130-1297]. In addition, we would like to specially thank Dr. Evangeline Foronda and Professor Mahmoud Ghazi Tabatabaei for their invaluable assistance in revising the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Authors’ contributions

All authors of the manuscript contributed to the concept and aim of the study. Principal scholar of this study, F.B., drafted the first copy of the manuscript. A. V., Z. T., A. E., A. P. and M. J. A.-S. revised and commented on the manuscript. A. V. revised and carefully checked the manuscript for important academic content. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.