title: 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.
authors: a Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences , University of Tehran , Tehran , Iran.|b Department of Science and Technology Studies , University College London , London , UK.
authors: Abouali
authors: A
authors: Vedadhir
authors: c Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors: Ziba
authors: Z
authors: Taghizadeh
authors: d Department of Midwifery , Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences , Babol , Iran.
authors: Fereshteh
authors: F
authors: Behmanesh
authors: e Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Nursing Faculty , Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors: Abbas
authors: A
authors: Ebadi
authors: f Department of Management and Health Economics, School of Public Health , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors: Abulghasem
authors: A
authors: Pourreza
authors: g Department of Demography Faculty of Social Sciences , University of Tehran , Tehran , Iran.|h National Institute of Population Research , Tehran , Iran.
authors: Mohammad Jalal
authors: MJ
authors: Abbasi-Shavazi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Patterns of marriage; fertility determinants; reproductive practice