Demographic and socio-economic determinants of birth interval dynamics in Iran: a hazard function analysis

Hassan Eini-Zinab, Ministry of Science, Research and Technology
Homa-Zahra Agha, Shiraz University

The main objective of this study was to identify factors affecting interval between marriage and first child and birth of first child and that of second child in Iran. Data are drawn from a DHS-type survey covering 90,739 married women conducted in 2000. Using life table analysis, Cox, and Weibull Regression techniques, significant differences in hazard ratios are found regarding the first child. Couples appear to be under social pressure to prove their fertility by bearing a child within a short time after marriage. Multivariate analysis reveals labor force participation, age at marriage, current age and education as the main factors affecting postponment of first child. They also show that women with different socio–demographic characteristics have different hazard ratios of giving birth to the second child. Age, level of education, survival of first child and age of mother at first delivery are the major factors affecting postponement of second child.