Background and aim: Declining fertility and, consequently, childbearing are among important social issues in Iran. The present study was carried out to determine the status of the fertility intentions and its relationship with religious and demographic factors in the city of Kermanshah, Iran.
Materials and methods: This descriptive and analytical research was conducted among 260 married men and women of reproductive age in Kermanshah city in 2023. The measurement tool was the Fertility Intention Scale. Data were collected through self-report and analyzed using SPSS version 16 considering a significance level of 5%.
Findings: The mean level of desire for the desired number of children in the family was 2.02 children with a standard deviation of 0.9. 53.8% (n=133) of the participants wanted to have two children. The participants obtained 40.3 percent of the maximum score obtainable in the Fertility Intention Scale. 13% of the participants wanted to have children within the past year. The economic status (Beta= 0.138 and P= 0.021) and desire for the number of children in the family (Beta= 0.396 and P< 0.001) were found to be the most significant factors influencing fertility intentions. Religion had no significant effect on fertility intentions (Beta= 0.082 and P= 0.173).
Conclusion: The present research showed that the economic status influences fertility intentions. Additionally, desire to have more children in the family was linked to stronger fertility intentions. This information can be utilized in developing strategies aimed at promoting higher birth rates in the society.