The Association of Religious Beliefs with Reproductive Behaviors in Reproductive Aged Women: A Systematic Review

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor, Nosocomial Infections Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

4 Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

5 Health Information Technology, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Background: Fertility behaviors are one of the worrisome issues in countries with below-replacement fertility rates. In addition to the socioeconomic dimensions affecting fertility rate reduction, the relationship of other components such as religion has also been considered. However, its association with reproductive behavior has not been clearly defined yet. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the association of religious beliefs with reproductive behaviors in reproductive-aged women.
Methods: In this systematic review, databases, and search engines including Web of Science (WoS), PubMed, Scopus, SID, Magiran, and Google Scholar were searched spanning from 2008 to 2023. The review has been limited to Persian and English published articles. The Persian and English keywords consisted of religion, belief, women, reproductive behaviors, and fertility. STROBE statement was selected for the quality assessment.
Findings: 27 studies matched the inclusion criteria. All the included studies indicated the association of religious beliefs with one or more components related to fertility behaviors. For instance, religious beliefs were directly associated with responsibility, use of preventive methods, unwanted pregnancy, sexual awareness, tendency to fertility, attitude towards the desired number of children, and egg donation methods. Also, Islamic attitudes have a protective role against inappropriate reproductive health behaviors for Muslims.
Conclusion: The results showed that fertility behaviors are directly related to religious beliefs. Religiosity is one of the factors that can have a positive role in people's attitudes toward fertility behavior, which can increase the population trend in different ethnicities. Therefore, the component of religion should be considered in fertility policies. However, more studies with larger sample sizes need to be conducted in this field.

Highlights

Azam Amirian: PubMed، Google Scholar

Mohammadamin Jandaghian Bidgoli: PubMed، Google Scholar

Farzin Khorvash: PubMed، Google Scholar

Fatemeh Abdi: PubMed، Google Scholar

Negin Shaterian: PubMed، Google Scholar

 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Oyediran KA, Ishola G, Bankole A. Relationship between religion and unintended childbearing in Nigeria: A cross-regional perspective. Genus 2020; 76: 1-20.
  2. Zadeahmad Z, Abdolahi M, Tavakkoli Sani SB, Charoghchian Khorasani E. The study of tendency to childbearing and its relationship with spiritual health and health literacy in women referred to the healthcare centers of Torbat Heydarieh, Iran, in 2019 [in Persian]. Razi J Med Sc 2020; 27(8): 32-41.
  3. Hajizadeh F, Ozgoli G, Saei GM, Sheikhan Z, Nasiri M, Jannesari S. Examining religious attitudes and reproductive behavior among women visiting health centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences [in Persian]. Journal of Pizhuhish Dar Din va Salamat 2017; 3(3): 68-79.
  4. Khadivzadeh T, Irani M. Religious beliefs and fertility behavior among women of reproductive age in Mashhad, Iran 2016. J Mazandaran Univ Med Sci 2018; 28(167): 133-44.
  5. Rahim Y, Chaudhry A, Mahmood B, Idrees M. socio-cultural contextual determinants of intergenerational change in fertility patterns: A systematic review. J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol 2023; 30(17): 1047-59.
  6. Saei Gharenaz M, Ozgoli G, Hajizadeh F, SHeikhan Z, Nasiri M, Jannesari S. The relationship between religious orientation with intention of desired fertility and actual and desirable number of children in working women of Tehran, Iran. Journal of Reaserch on Religion & Health 2017; 3(1): 79-90.
  7. Savabi H, Rad F. Investigation of trends to fertility and the related social factors (A case study of married women 15 to 50 years in Tabriz) [in Persian]. Sociological studies 2013; 5(17): 23-42.
  8. Mahmoudian H, Nobakht R. Religion and fertility: an analysis of fertility behavior of Sunni and Shia Religious Groups in Goledar City, Fars Province [in Persian]. Journal of Social Problems of Iran 2009; 1(1): 195-215.
  9. Seifi S, Akbari K. Critical study of representation of factors affecting childbearing in TV ads with religious approach [in Persian]. Religious Studies of the Media 2021; 3(9-10): 53-80.
  10. Muinifar M. Reproductive right in Islamic law. Journal of Contemporary Islamic Studies 2022; 4(2): 221-33.
  11. Simforoosh N, Tabatabai S, Simforoosh F. The Quran and Etrat Instructions in population balance and the demographic pattern of the Iranian-Islamic family to benefit from medical science programs [in Persian]. Quran and Medicine 2018; 3(1): 25-9.
  12. Pezhhan A, Kamaliha A. Comparison of population-fertility behaviors of Buddhism in Asia [in Persian]. Asian Culture and Art Studies (Motaleat-e Farhang va Honare Asiya). 2020; 2(1): 57-88.
  13. Zhang L. Religious affiliation, religiosity, and male and female fertility. Demographic Research 2008; 18(8): 233-62.
  14. Amini L, Bakhshi K, Avval Shahr HS, Haghani S. Relationship of accountability and religious orientation with childbearing intention in women referred to comprehensive health centers in Yasouj, Iran [in Persian]. Iran Journal of Nursing 2022; 35(136): 178-89.
  15. Amirian A, Pakzad R, Hasanpour V, Mirzadeh N, Abdi F. Neonatal outcome among pregnant women with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2022; 35(25): 9234-48.
  16. Amirian A, Rahnemaei FA, Abdi F. Role of C-reactive Protein (CRP) or high-sensitivity CRP in predicting gestational diabetes Mellitus: Systematic review. Diabetes Metab Syndr 2020; 14(3): 229-36.
  17. Langdridge D, Sheeran P, Connolly K. Understanding the reasons for parenthood. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2005; 23(2): 121-33.
  18. Frejka T, Westoff CF. Religion, religiousness and fertility in the US and in Europe: Religion, religiosité et fécondité aux Etats-Unis et en Europe. Eur J Popul 2008; 24(1): 5-31.
  19. Rijken AJ, Liefbroer AC. The influence of partner relationship quality on fertility: L’influence de la qualité de la relation avec le partenaire sur la fécondité. Eur J Popul 2009; 25(1): 27-44.
  20. Soleimani A, Mahmoudi M, Rahimi A. Modeling fertility in Mazandaran Province: using the "Path Analysis" [in Persian]. Payesh 2006; 5(3): 207-12.
  21. Poote AE, van den Akker OBA. British women's attitudes to surrogacy. Hum Reprod 2009; 24(1): 139-45.
  22. Ramezanzadeh F, Haghollahi F, Bagheri M, Masoomi M, Abedi-Nia N, Jafarabadi M. Attitudes of Donors and Recipients toward Ethical Issues in Oocyte Donation. J Reprod Infertil 2009; 10(1): 71-80.
  23. Abbasi-Shavazi MJ, Khajehsalehi Z. An assessment on the impact of women’s autonomy, education and social participation on childbearing intention in Sirjan City [in Persian]. Woman in Development & Politics 2013; 11(1): 45-64.
  24. Salehi B, Seif K, Jamillian HR, Ghebleh F. Comparison of mental health status between employed women in Arak University of Medical Sciences and official staffs of Education office, Arak, 2008 [in Persian]. J Arak Uni Med Sci 2009; 12(3): 77-84.
  25. Leininger M. Culture care theory: A major contribution to advance transcultural nursing knowledge and practices. J Transcult Nurs 2002; 13(3): 189-92.
  26. Kellogg S, Rosenbaum T, Dweck A, Millheiser L, Pillai-Friedman S, Krychman M. Sexual health and religion: A primer for the sexual health clinician. J Sex Med 2014; 11(7): 1606-19.
  27. Al Mutair AS, Plummer V, O’Brien AP, Clerehan R. Providing culturally congruent care for Saudi patients and their families. Contemp Nurse 2014; 46(2): 254-8.
  28. El Kazdouh H, El-Ammari A, Bouftini S, El Fakir S, El Achhab Y. Perceptions and intervention preferences of Moroccan adolescents, parents, and teachers regarding risks and protective factors for risky sexual behaviors leading to sexually transmitted infections in adolescents: qualitative findings. Reprod Health 2019; 16(1): 138.
  29. Bilgrami Z, Mclaughlin L, Milanaik R, Adesman A. Health implications of new-age technologies: a systematic review. Minerva Pediatr 2017; 69(4): 348-67.
  30. Mullis MD, Kastrinos A, Wollney E, Taylor G, Bylund CL. International barriers to parent-child communication about sexual and reproductive health topics: a qualitative systematic review. Sex Education 2021; 21(4): 387-403.
  31. Ozen ME, Vural M, Aydin H, Orum MH, Kalenderoglu A, Selek S. Influences of various variables on body image satisfaction among highly fertile women and infertile women. Turkish J Clinical Psychiatry 2019; 22: 187-92.
  32. Epner DE, Baile WF. Patient-centered care: the key to cultural competence. Ann Oncol 2012; 23 (Suppl 3): 33-42.
  33. Tucker CM, Roncoroni J, Marsiske M, Nghiem KN, Wall W. Validation of a patient-centered, culturally sensitive, clinic environment inventory using a national sample of adult patients. J Transcult Nurs 2014; 25(1): 80-6.
  34. Malmir M, Ebrahimi M, Sadeghi R. Religious affiliation and childbearing preferences of Iranian
    J Relig Health 2023; 62(2): 748-63.
  35. Alizadeh Aghdam MB, Agayari-Hir T, Soltani S, Ansari N. Investigating the relationship between religiosity and media consumption with women's fertility behavior (Case Study: Married Women aged 15-49 in Tabriz) [in Persian]. Sociology of Culture and Art 2022; 4(1): 100-83.
  36. Xie D, Zhou Y. Religion effects on fertility preference: evidence from China. J Pop Res 2022; 39(3): 341-71.
  37. Halimatusa'diyah I, Toyibah D. Do religious people have more children? The effect of religious affiliation and religiosity on fertility. Journal of Population and Social Studies 2021; 29: 479-99.
  38. Kaveh Firouz Z, Abbasi-Shavazi MJ, Serajzadeh SH, Ramazi N. The relationship between religiosity and family values with fertility desires and intention among married women in Tehran [in Persian]. Quarterly of Social Studies and Research in Iran 2021; 10(2): 587-623.
  39. Yavarian Baei M, Halimi Jloudar H, Baezzat F. Effectiveness of parental religiosity on their attitude towards. Journal of Woman and Family Studies 2021; 8(4): 107-26.
  40. Harzif AK, Maidarti M, Silvia M, Mariana A, Mutia HD, Wiweko B. Knowledge, attitude, intention, and religion aspect toward fertility preservation among obstetrics and gynecology residents in Indonesia: A cross-sectional study. Int J Reprod Biomed 2020; 18(1): 47-56.
  41. Azmoude E, Barati-Far S, Behnam H, Maryam AradmehrM. Socio-demographic and religious factors affecting fertility rate among childbearing women in Easter Iran: A population-based study. Reproductive Health 2019; 7(1): 1553-9.
  42. Abbaszadeh M, Aghayari Hir T, Alizadeh Aghdam MB, Adlipour S. Attitude towards childbearing among married women and men aged 18-49 years: The role of religiosity, family, modern media, and modern rethinking. Payesh 2019; 18(2): 173-82.
  43. Hossain MB, Khan MHR, Ababneh F, Shaw JEH. Identifying factors influencing contraceptive use in Bangladesh: evidence from BDHS 2014 data. BMC Public Health 2018; 18(1): 192.
  44. Hosseini H, Askari Nodoushan A, Moradi N. A comparative study of childbearing desires of Shia and Sunni Kurdish women in rural areas of Kamyaran. Journal of Woman and Family Studies 2016; 4(1): 63-84.
  45. Pearce LD, Davis SN. How early life religious exposure relates to the timing of first birth.
    J Marriage Fam 2016; 78(5): 1422-38.
  46. Saidi Madani SM, Karimi H, Jalilian A, Armand MA. Determinants of reproductive behavior of women of Shiite and Sunni religious groups [in Persian]. The Women and Family Cultural Education 2015; 11(36): 71-9.
  47. Akintunde MO, Lawal MO, Simeon O. Religious roles in fertility behaviour among the residents of Akinyele Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria. International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences 2013; 2(6): 455-62.
  48. Soroush M, Bahrani S. A study of relationship
    between religiosity, sex role attitude, attitude toward children and ideal and actual number of children [in Persian]. Woman in Development & Politics 2013; 11(2): 189-208.
  49. Latifnejad Roudsari R, Jafari H, Taghipour A, Khadem N, Ebrahimzdeh S. The Association of Religious Beliefs in Infertile Couples’ Attitude towards Donation Procedures and Its Selection as a Therapeutic Approach to Infertility [in Persian]. The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility 2013; 16(44): 1-10.
  50. Hayford SR, Morgan SP. Religiosity and fertility in the United States: The role of fertility intentions. Soc Forces 2008; 86(3): 1163-88.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 41, Issue 737
1st Week, December
November and December 2023
Pages 853-865

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 07 August 2023
  • Accept Date: 19 November 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics