Swings in Fertility Limitation in Iran.

The issue of demographic transition has become a principle preoccupation of demographers during the last few decades. As explained by some scholars, the omnipresent differentials in the trends and determinants of transition warrant separate and detailed study in various regions and countries to obtain a better understanding of the issue. In this article, an attempt is made to elaborate on the recent trend of fertility and its determinants in the Islamic Republic of Iran. After providing a brief introduction to the general demographic characteristics of the country, I discuss fertility limitation in the past and Islamic views about birth control. Subsequently, I elaborate on the swings in fertility limitation in the past three decades and the determinants of those swings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]