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1 - An Exploration of the Lived Experiences of Childbearing of the Couples and the Factors Affecting them in Lorestan Province
gholamreza Tajbakhsg

 An Exploration of the Lived Experiences of Childbearing of the Couples and the Factors Affecting them in Lorestan Province       Gholamreza Tajbakhsh<a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title="" href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">*</a>       Introduction   Fertility as a social reality is influenced by environmental, social, political, economic, and cultural factors at the macro level. At the micro level, it is affected by the thoughts, motivations, and tendencies of people. Fundamental changes have been made in the structure and characteristics of the Iranian family in various dimensions. The decrease in fertility levels, the transition from extended families to nuclear families, and the resulting decrease in the number of children have been significant experiences for Iranian families. This change is tangible, as the fertility rate of the whole country has dropped from 2.07 in 2016 to 1.6 in 2022, which can be considered as under replacement fertility level. Currently, most provinces of the country, including Lorestan province, have low fertility rates below the replacement level (Statistical Yearbook of the Civil Registration Organization, 2023: 115).   According to the latest statistics from the National Statistics Center of Iran, the population of Lorestan province is 1,805,215 people. In Lorestan province, 8% of the population are children, 21% are teenagers, 17.5% are young people, 43% are middle-aged people, and 10.5% are elderly. Accordingly, 8% of the population of children cannot replace 10.5% of the province's elderly. In the next thirty years, more than 43% of the province's population will be elderly and not productive, leading to an aging province. In 2022, 15,211 marriages were recorded in Lorestan, which decreased to 14,612 last years. Additionally, in 2021, 4,215 cases of divorce were recorded in the province, and this figure decreased to 3,963, a seven percent decline last year (Iran Statistics Center, 2023).   Considering the above statistics and the trend of decreasing young population and increasing aging in this province, it is very necessary to address an important issue such as population rejuvenation. The population can affect the micro and macro structures of this province and society at both the individual and social levels. The lively presence of the young generation in this province can contribute to the dynamism and growth of its development through proper macro-cultural planning.   There are a few studies on the issue in Lorestan province, and due to the decrease in childbearing in this province, it is necessary to address this important issue. Therefore, the main objective of the current research is the sociological investigation of the tendency to have children and factors related to it in Lorestan province. According to the nature of the research problem and the mentioned goals, some basic questions will be investigated in this research. The questions of this research are as follows:   1. What factors affect the issue of childbearing in Lorestan province families?   2. What are the views of couples on the issue of having children and the challenges ahead?   3. What solutions can be offered to increase childbearing in Lorestan province?       Methodology   According to the nature of the research problem, a qualitative method was used to examine the issue, focusing on the study of childbearing contexts. A "semi structured interview" was employed for this method. The criteria for participation were limited to couples who were married and had started their life together; some had children, while others yet not had children. Samples were found in various public spaces, such as parks and recreational places, mosques, sports facilities, stores, and sanitary centers. Each interview lasted approximately 60 minutes.   The statistical population of this research included couples living in the cities of Lorestan province who were interviewed. In this qualitative method, sampling was purposeful and theoretical. According to object, sampling being continued until "theoretical saturation." Based on theoretical saturation, 31 married people were interviewed.   "Thematic" analysis and "coding" techniques were used to analyze the findings from the interviews. The findings were identified in three main categories. The first category refers to the semantic units that the interviewees discussed concretely and with examples. The second category is common themes, a more complex level than the first, where the related codes are presented in a specific and meaningful category. Finally, the main themes related to each category refer to the primary and fundamental factors affecting the category under investigation in the research.       Findings   The findings of the research, classified in eleven main themes: ideal familism, psychological and individual factors, cultural, social, economic, and political changes, attitudes and beliefs, sexual and family issues, inter-spousal relations, and epistemological perspectives on life. A healthy social, economic, and cultural condition, along with creating a sense of satisfaction and security in society, significantly affects couples' desire to have children. It is important to note that the selected subjects come from different social classes, have varying levels of education, and hold different views on the issue of having children. The married life of these couples is mostly more than five years, and the number of their children is fewer than two.       Conclusion   The current research sought to investigate the tendency to have children in Lorestan province and identify the factors affecting it. To better explain the research problem and examine the lived experiences of couples in the field of childbearing, a qualitative method was applied to capture their genuine experiences on this issue. The results of this research showed that various factors, such as economic, political, cultural, social, sexual, epistemic, inter-marital, and family relations, influence couples' views on having children. Undoubtedly, childbearing is a pressing issue in Iranian society and is a focal point of the current government's policies. Lorestan province is also among the regions affected by these policies. Given that Iranian society and the country's population are generally moving towards old age, it is crucial to address this issue. However, the platforms supporting childbearing should also be seriously included in the officials' agenda. It should not be forgotten that Lorestan province is one of the five most deprived provinces in the country and requires more attention in various cultural, political, and economic fields.   As the results of this research showed, significant and deeply rooted factors influence couples' desire to have children in Lorestan province. Cultural, economic, political, medical, and social conditions, among others, should receive more attention from both the public and officials. Additionally, due to Lorestan province's economic and political situation within the country, it should be noted that in order to succeed population policies, there must be a fundamental review and written planning to address economic, cultural, political, and health infrastructures. Without this, even with an increase in population and couples' desire to have children, the problems will not be solved. In a political perspective of several years, the situation in this province could become critical due to its disadvantaged position.   <div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /> <div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;"> <a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title="" href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">*</a> Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Ayatollah Aozama <a name="_Hlk175655012"></a>Boroujerdi University, Boroujerd, Iran.  tajbakhsh@abru.ac.ir </div> </div>   Manuscript profile

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