Population Control

Objective: Considering the significance of population and its optimal growth in Iran, the present study examined the low motivation of young couples for childbearing in Shiraz by developing a conceptual model using a quantitative approach. Methods: This research is applied in terms of its goal. The statistical population of this study includes all young couples without children in Shiraz in 2021 (based on the 2016 census, approximately 14% of couples are childless). According to the population size, the number of questions, Cochran's formula, and the G-power sample adequacy index, the approximate sample size consisted of 300 young childless couples, who were selected using the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire, and based on factor analysis, the conceptual model of factors was explained and extracted. To test the model, the structural equation modeling approach was employed. The software used in this research was SPSS and AMOS. Findings: The results showed significant differences between the component of economic support and the components of personal growth inhibition, body self-concept, semantic attitude, communicative attitude, and social judgment. According to the model's fit indices, it was observed that the X2/df index was equal to 3.70, which is at an acceptable level. Additionally, the values of the RMSEA index were 0.08, CFI was 0.843, FMIN was 3.21, NFI was 0.798, ECVI was 3.70, and IFI was 0.844, all of which were at an appropriate level. Therefore, the model had a good fit. Conclusion: Based on the research findings, it is recommended that researchers focus on improving attitudes in the areas of body self-concept, social judgment, semantic attitude, and communicative attitudes regarding childbearing.

Given the importance of increasing and decreasing procreation, the present study aims to address contradictory verses and narrations on this topic using a descriptive and analytical method and answer the question: ‘What are the solutions for resolving contradictory verses and narrations regarding the increase and decrease of procreation?’ The research findings show that by applying two solutions, namely governmental decrees and the rules of conflict, balance, and preference, the conflict among the verses and narrations in the field of prolificacy and population control is resolved. In the first approach, the verses and narrations of prolificacy and population control, based on the primary principle and rule, indicate the preference and desirability of increasing procreation. However, if the individual and social conditions of the Islamic community change, the primary rule may change. The ruler and the supreme jurisprudent can issue a decree according to the circumstances of the time. Consequently, both an increase and a decrease in procreation may occur in different times and conditions in the Islamic community, thus avoiding a conflict. In the second approach, considering that the contradictory verses and narrations in the field of prolificacy and population control are divided into three categories: Conflict between verses of prolificacy and verses of population control, conflict between verses and narrations of prolificacy and population control, and conflict between narrations of prolificacy and narrations of population control. In the conflict between verses of prolificacy and verses of population control, the verses of prolificacy are preferred. In the conflict between verses and narrations of prolificacy and population control, two scenarios are possible: Sometimes the verses of prolificacy conflict with the narrations of population control, in which case the verses of prolificacy are preferred because they are definite in meaning ( Dalālah ) and definite in origin ( Ṣudūr ), while the narrations of population control are speculative in meaning ( Dalālah ) and speculative in origin ( Ṣudūr ); and sometimes, the verses of population control conflict with the narrations of prolificacy. The narrations of prolificacy are preferred because the verses of population control do not indicate procreation and increasing progeny. In the conflict between narrations of prolificacy and narrations of population control, since the conflict between these narrations is of the type of absolute and restricted conflict, the narrations of population control are restricted by the narrations of prolificacy. Accordingly, according to the verses and narrations, the abundance and increase of procreation are desirable.