Women's Strategic Studies

Women's Strategic Studies

Developing Strategies And Policy Measures To Enhance Fertility And Maintain Youthful Of The Iranian Population

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammadvali Aliei 1
Mohammad Hossein Shadmanfar 2
Mohammad Hossein Alipoor 3
Shahideh Jahanian 4
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Demography, Population and Family Governance Research Institute, Imam Hossein University, Tehran, Iran
2 Researcher, Policy Research Group, Population and Family Governance Research Institute, Imam Hossein University, Tehran, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Population and Family Governance Research Institute, Imam Hossein University, Tehran, Iran
4 Associate Professor, Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
10.22095/jwss.2026.541613.3751
Abstract
Iran’s rapid demographic transition, characterized by declining fertility, increasing marriage age, and increasing elderly population, poses challenges to national development and social sustainability. Although general population policies are being communicated, fragmented implementation and lack of adaptation to the context of society limit potential effectiveness. This study develops a comprehensive, multilevel, and participatory policy framework aimed at increasing fertility and sustaining a young population in Iran using the classical grounded theory method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus groups with fourteen key stakeholders, including policymakers, health professionals, demographers, and cultural experts. Following grand theory coding procedures, the main theme of “strategic synergy within a participatory and justice-oriented governance framework” was identified. The final conceptual model includes six strategic domains: cultural and social, administrative and economic system, health and sanitation, social welfare, land planning and migration, and population management. These findings suggest that isolated or top-down reproductive interventions are not sufficient. An effective policy requires systematic synergies between cultural narratives, reproductive health services, family-oriented taxation, gender-sensitive employment reforms, and place-based justice. In addition, the active participation of intermediary institutions such as counseling centers, civil society organizations, and local councils is essential to translate population goals into tangible social actions.
Keywords
Demographic Transition
Population Policy
Fertility
Participatory Governance
Grounded Theory

Subjects

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