Male involvement in family planning programs in Iran: an analysis of levels and correlates

Abbas Askari-Nodoushan, Yazd University, Iran
Aliyar Ahmadi, University of Tehran
Seyed Alireza Afshani, University of Yazd, Iran
Malihe Alimondegari, University of Tehran

Islamic Republic of Iran has implemented one of the most successful family planning programs among developing world. Indeed, one of the strengths of Iran's family planning programs has been the involvement of men. In this paper we examine the role of Iranian men in decision-making concerning family size, reproductive health, motivation to have children and contraceptive use. Two main sources of data used for the study: Iran DHS conducted in 2000 and a small scale survey among married men, which recently collected by the authors in Yazd, a religious- conservative city with one of highest level of male participation in the family planning in Iran. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify socio-economic and individual factors associated with the role of men in family planning. Paper concludes with some policy implications.