The main purpose of the research was to examine the role of men in decision-making concerning family size, fertility control, motivation to have children and contraceptive use. Specifically, this research examines the role of men in family planning and fertility control in the city of Yazd, the capital city of Yazd province in Iran, which has highest level of male participation on family planning and contraceptive use in the country. Data used in this study comes from an individual survey interview conducted in Yazd, a city in the central part of Iran. Target population for the study was all currently married men aged 15-49. A total sample size of 296 men was interviewed and used in the present analysis. Participants were questioned about their fertility and family planning attitude and behaviours as well as a range of other socio-demographic variables such as family income, level of their individual modernism, degree of religiousness, use of mass media and so on. Measure of individual modernization, as well as measure of the degree of religiousness also developed and its reliability and validity discussed. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with role of men in family planning. Data shows that in our research site men have a high level of participation in family planning and contraceptive use, with 69 percent of men reported that use a male based method to control fertility. Condom with 37.6 percent, withdrawal with 27.9 percent and vasectomy with 3.8 percent are among the most popular method used. The analysis reveals a positive correlation between measure of individual modernization and the use of male methods. The analysis also indicates that male involvement in family planning increase with a rise in male education and decrease with rising age. As analysis shows measure of individual modernization and age explain 11 and 8 percent of dependent variable variance respectively. Altogether, 28.5 percent of variance for male involvement in family planning can be explained using linear transformation variance by such independent variables as individual modernism, religiousness, income, education, age, and influence of mass media. Analysis reveals that individual modernism, religiousness, income and education have significant impact on men's participation on family planning and fertility control. While age and influence of mass media has significant negative influence on male's family planning and fertility control. Furthermore, the results indicated that individual modernism and age enjoyed the most impact on family planning decision and fertility control. The results indicated that role of men in family planning is incredibly high and even more significant than women’s. The results of the study is consistent with diffusion and economic theories of fertility change, shows that individual modernism, religiousness, income and education have significant impact on family planning behavior of men.

The present study aims to analyze the population changes in Iran and "population and family planning" book (population unit). Library and analyzing the population policies in Iran. Authorities of the country have performed many projects to accomplish population policies in resent three decades. Unit of "population and family planning" in universities is one of the population birth control programs which is offered to higher education centers of the country. One of the consequences of population policies and family planning is unbalanced reduction in population growth, growth of elderly and negative growth of population in future decades. Local and regional supports and health services of family planning is suggested and describing the consequences of elderly population in educative Units of "population and family planning" is put forward as another suggestion at the end of research.

Nowadays, family planning is a separate concept from contraceptive tools. It is considered as a fundamental element in accessing to fertility rights, empowering women, and promoting women’s status in societies. It aims to empower women for appropriate decision-makings about family planning and help them to have aware decisions. To be assure of women’s empowerment, while giving family planning services, is an essential prerequisite for enhancing reproductive health. This study aimed to explore women’s perceptions about role of family planning services in empowering them. In this qualitative study, data were gathered from 37 married women who were using contraceptives and were willing to participate in the study. Seven focus group discussions and five individual interviews were recorded and analyzed using qualitative content analysis method. Analysis of data emerged four main categories about the role of health centers in empowering women: calling for men’s participation in family planning counseling by health providers, providing comprehensive reproductive health services, extending free family planning services, and applying suitable technology for informing society. T he results showed that present physical access to health centers and free family planning services cannot help women to fulfill their needs. Health centers should provide new approaches to provide comprehensive reproductive health services. This will result in helping women to decide consciously and voluntarily to have more control over their fertility.

Women's empowerment is a process of the expansion in women`s ability and freedom to make strategic life choices, especially empowering them for decision making about family planning and fertility desires. The study Aimed to comprehend the experiences of women about empowerment in family planning. In this qualitative study, data were gathered from 35 married women who eligible for contraception use at childbearing age. Seven focus group discussion sessions and five individual interviews were recorded and analyzed using qualitative content analysis method. Analysis of data showed that four main category as a meaning of empowerment in family planning in view of participants: 1- control over fertility plan 2- partnership in family planning 3- maintaining health 4- access to family planning services. in view of participants, with knowledge about family planning and autonomy for decision making they gain control over their fertility plan. Couples agreement in fertility desires and partner`s support in implementing family planning result in a partnership for family planning. Planned pregnancy, safe and appropriate contraception methods help women to maintain their health. Access to desired contraception methods during couple counseling and well treatment of side effects occur in use of contraception methods were highly emphasized. Thus to achieve empowerment in family planning we need to be planning it in the family, society and health systems.

Rapid growth of Iran's population attracted attention of the authorities after the 1986 national census. This led to population control and family planning programs to be considered as a priority. Appropriate strategies of the family planning program led to a very fast decrease in population growth and fertility indices:; and use of contraceptive techniquies rate increased from 49% in 1989 to 73.8% in 2007. This study aimed at reviewing family planning program in Iran (FPPI) during the last four decades and discussing the reasons for its success, as it can be a guide for future efforts aimed at improving other aspects of reproductive health. The method used was systematic reviewing of articles indexed in Medline and University Jihad Scientific Database, reports of the Demographic and Health Project, the Iranian Statistical Center National Censuses, and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education reports on knowledge, attitude and practice. FPPI initiated officially in 1966 faced with limited success. Following the 1986 national census, population control was announced as a public policy, supported by the leaders. A supportive environment was created by mass media. Establishment of the Departments of Population and FP in the Ministry of Health made possible reorganizing family planning services: expanding coverage of PHC services, including FP services; training skilled personnel; providing free contraceptives; and vasectomy and tubectomy services. Involvement of volunteers and NGOs helped in strengthening community actions. In order to develop personal skills, in addition to face-to-face FP counseling in the health centers, FP education in schools, colleges, workplaces, army and pre-marriage classes was also imparted. Promotion of men's participation in FPPI, by providing male methods of contraception, such as vasectomy or condom use, was also considered. There was also cooperation and support on the part of nongovernmental and international organizations. Based on the findings, it may be concluded that the principles of health promotion can explain the FPP achievements in Iran. This model can be used in expanding other reproductive health programs in Iran.

In high risk pregnancies mother and her fetus are in greater risk than normal pregnancies and an appropriate contraception method could prevent these risky conditions to be happened. High risk women from population unit and Kowsar center were referred and regarding the underlying medical diseases the best contraception method recommended and educated were implemented for them. After a year of education، women are surveyed again. In our referees 390 women had the old age (>35 yrs) as their only risk factor. Hypertension was the medical risk in 23، cardiac diseases in 22، diabetes mellitus in 18 and asthma in 10 patients. The frequency of using different contraception methods among this high risk women was 72. 8% and the most important reason for their uncompliance non satisfaction (15. 9 %.). 93. 1% of women participant were agree with the implemented dejection and 77. 2% of them were believed that those dejection were sufficient. The rate of satisfaction and usefulness about contraception method’s education were and respectively. We concluded that educating the women could not be enough and in order to obtain better results we need to educate husbands too.

Men’s involvement in reproductive health programs is one of the most important principles in reproductive health and the important goals of reproductive health will not be achieved without their involvement. This study aimed to evaluate the viewpoints of men participating in a family planning educational program in this regard.
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 104 men referring to Fayaz Bakhsh health center, Gonabad, Iran to participate in premarital counseling. The subjects were selected through convenience sampling. They were required to complete a questionnaire evaluating their viewpoints about family planning and the training session. Then, the data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software, version 19.
Most of the participants (46.6%) referred to necessity of family planning programs and 65.5% of them believed that they had much information about family planning. The sources of information about family planning were books and CDs in 53% of the samples. Moreover, 48.1% of the participants mentioned the high quality of the training session and 69% of them reported that this session was highly effective in increasing their information about family planning. Furthermore, 59% of the subjects believed that this session would improve their relationships with their spouses and 64%of them indicated that the contents of this session were moderately applicable for beginning of marital life.
According to the findings, the majority of the men declared the effectiveness of this session in increasing their information about family planning as well as their need for more sessions and privet counseling. Thus, health centers are recommended to increase the number of training sessions and also prepare a suitable place for privet family planning counseling.