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An analysis of reproductive motivation in Shiraz, Iran

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

S. E. Tolnay
Affiliation:
Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
A. H. Mehryar
Affiliation:
Population Center, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
S. Jamshidi
Affiliation:
Population Center, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Summary

In a sample of 260 married men in Shiraz, the relationship is studied of fertility to demographic, socioeconomic and psychosocial variables, the last measuring the perceived economic value of children. The number of children ever born is closely associated with duration of marriage, but socioeconomic variables also exert a significant influence, especially the wife's educational level. Recent fertility is more closely associated with age of wife, but also with ownership of modern goods which is also the major factor in current contraceptive use. The perceived value of children appears unimportant, negligible in recent fertility and contraceptive use, and only showing a slight positive relationship between expected reliance on children for support in old age and the number of children ever born.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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