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Health-Oriented Fertility in the Context of Shifting Population Policies: A Review of a Decade of Experience in Iran
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Kazem Saravani   , Fatemeh Torabi |
| of Demography, Department of Demography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran and National Institute for Population Research (NIPR) |
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Abstract: (15 Views) |
Background: The sharp decline in fertility rates in Iran over recent decades has become one of the country’s most critical demographic challenges and has led to a fundamental reassessment of population policies, particularly since the early 2010s. The focus of new policies on rapidly increasing fertility rates may potentially generate consequences and challenges for the national health system that could undermine the realization of these policies within the context of health and reproductive rights. The present study aims to examine the bidirectional relationship between health and fertility in the context of the shift in population policymaking in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Methods: Using a scoping review approach, this study examines scientific evidence published between 2014 and 2024 across four main domains – infertility, maternal mortality and morbidity, contraception, and abortion – along with the associated health-related consequences and challenges.
Results: The findings indicate that the considerable prevalence of infertility, regional inequalities in maternal health indicators, the expansion of ineffective contraceptive methods, and the persistence of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions constitute some of the most important health-related barriers to achieving a sustainable increase in fertility in Iran. Moreover, the evidence suggests that population policies that lack a systematic focus on reproductive health infrastructure and equity in access to services not only have limited effectiveness but may also produce unintended adverse consequences for the health of women and families.
Conclusion: Overall, the results of this study underscore the necessity of adopting an integrated and health-oriented approach to pro-natalist policies, one that simultaneously pursues fertility increase, the promotion of reproductive health, and evidence-based governance of the health system. |
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| Keywords: Fertility, Public Health, Public Policy, Social Justice |
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Full-Text [PDF 264 kb]
(21 Downloads)
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Letter: Review Article |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/02/16 | Accepted: 2026/07/12 | ePublished ahead of print: 2026/10/4
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