Obstacles to having children in Iran: a review study

Background: The continuous decline in fertility and the transition from natural fertility to controlled fertility is gradually transforming the population. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to determine the obstacles and challenges of having children in Iran.Method: The present article is a review study. The present systematic review was conducted according to the guidelines of the QUOROM statement checklist, an evidence‑based system which controls reporting in systematic reviews and meta‑analyses. Data were collected using valid search engines and databases. The keywords which were used included Infertility, Obstacles and challenges of having children, childbearing. The period from ۲۰۱۰ to ۲۰۲۲ were selected.Results: The results of ۷ of the ۳ selected sources showed that the obstacles are divided into three general categories: ۱. Personal and family factors such as increasing age at marriage, current number of children, average birth distance, gender preferences, ۲. Social and economic factors, including social support, education, job and social participation especially for women, the influence of social networks, ۳. Cultural factors such as modernity and industrialization, changes in family values and religion, decreasing preference for fertility, the desire to live unmarried and forming independent households before marriage, along with another factor called divorce, have reduced the size of the household and increased the number of households. Which indicates the entry of modernism values into the field of the Iranian family.Conclusion: Various individual, social and economic factors are considered among the most important challenges in the field of fertility and population growth. In addition to the cultural work for increasing the generation, it is necessary to create the necessary platforms for increasing the generation so that the age pyramid is balanced.