Factors Related to Empowering Iranian Women’s Fertility Behaviors: A Systematic Review

Aims Women’s empowerment refers to empowering women to make independent decisions about significant life issues. Women’s empowerment affects demographic processes and fertility behaviors. The aim of this review was to investigate the factors related to empowering Iranian women’s fertility behaviors. Information and Methods This review examined all related studies conducted from 1997 to 2017 in Google Scholar, PubMed, Elsevier, Scopus, Proquest, Irandoc, SID, and Magiran using some keywords, i.e., fertility, empowerment, decision-making, and childbearing. Findings 31 articles related to the objective of the current study were finally selected and examined. The studies demonstrated that factors associated with empowering Iranian women’s fertility behaviors could be classified into four main categories: contextual, economic, socio-cultural, and moral and emotional factors. Conclusion Empowering women’s fertility behaviors is related to the contextual, economic, socio-cultural, and moral-emotional factors. By planning and making policies aimed at improving women’s position and educational and occupational facilities, improving social services and quality of life, and creating equal opportunities for getting access to facilities and credits, indicators of human development empowerment and women’s fertility behaviors can be promoted