P-133: The Influence of Gender Role and Women Empowerment on Fertility Experiences in Urban Society of Mashhad, Iran

Background: Iran has experienced a great variation in women status in recent years. There is a little information on how and why advancing gender equality and equity and the empowerment of women play a role in recent fertility reduction in the country. This study was conducted to gain an insight into the role of gender beliefs and women empowerment in couples’ experiences of fertility in Mashhad, Iran in 2011-12. Materials and Methods: In this exploratory qualitative study in-depth interviews were conducted with 54 purposefully selected eligible male and female participants and some key informants who lived in urban society of Mashhad. Data was gathered until saturation was happened and analyzed adopting conventional content analysis approach through giving analytical codes and identification of categories using MAXqda software. Study rigor verified via prolonged engagement and validation of cods through participants’ confirmation. Results: Findings from data analysis demonstrated three major categories including: 1. gaining the power and evolution of gender roles, 2. interacting with repeated/ balanced gender roles, and 3. realization of reproductive preferences. The participants viewed advancement of women’s knowledge on their socio-legal right and health literacy and decision making skills preceded by increased women education, as essential elements and cornerstone of women empowering that result in achieving the equity in fertility decisions and also ability for administrating such decisions. “Equal roles in fertility decisions”, “choosing and using best fit family planning methods” and “participative child care” influenced the women’s fertility behaviors. Conclusion: Managing the fertility behaviors need to understand the roles of spouses in their mutual interaction and their quota in fertility decision making and related behaviors. Reproductive health policy makers and family planning counselors can apply the study findings in order to disseminate proper fertility behaviors.