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Fertility in Iran has declined rapidly during the last three decades. Although several studies have analyzed the trends and determinants of fertility declines, few studies have considered the relationship between family change and fertility. Using the institutional framework for analysis of fertility, this study examines the impact of certain dimensions and changes of family on fertility attitudes and behaviors with particular emphasize on Yazd province. The main data source used in this study comes from “the iran Fertility Transition Survey” as well as other relevant data sources.
Results of the study indicate that rapid changes have taken place in fertility attitudes and behaviors while traditional elements of family have experienced continuity and change in recent years. In summary, the sharp fertility decline in Iran cannot be explained by changes in family as the rapid fall of fertility has not been accompanied by rapid changes of traditional elements of family life, and contrary to the prediction of some scholars, no linear convergence has been observed towards Western nuclear family in Iran.