Introduction: This article examines patterns and determinants associated with childbearing desires and specifically focus on religious dimensions. Although in our society, religious considerations strongly influence life and personal and social behaviour in various aspects such as childbearing desires, few studies have been conducted in this area. This lack of study is more visible with regard to comparative studies between two groups of Shia and Sunni. Therefore, this article presents research-based and experience-based evidence to explore some of the most important patterns and determinants associated with relationships between childbearing desires and religious affiliation focusing on a comparative study between Shias and Sunnis.

Method: This article is based on a survey conducted in rural and urban areas of Bojnord and Gonbad-Kavous. Applying Cochran’s sampling techniques and multistage cluster sampling method 870 males and females aged 15 years old and over participated in this study.  Two different samples were chosen to facilitate more accurate investigation of research questions. In other words, the religious groups of this study lived in economically and socially different societies. Therefore, comparing the childbearing desires of each religious group of the two sample groups provided accurate investigation of the research question, that is, whether the patterns associated with childbearing desires are affected by socioeconomic status of religious groups or they are affected by their religious affiliation. Data were analysed using SPSS.

Findings: ‘two child’ families  were recognized as the most prominent and desirable pattern of childbearing in both Shia and Sunni groups.Similar patterns associated with other determinants of childbearing desires (such as marriage patterns, birth increase policies and gender preference) were also observed. On the contrary, preferred fertility patterns of "childlessness" and "one-child” were not acceptable to and common in both religious groups. Comparative findings emphasized the importance of the effects of the demographic variables, such as gender and place of living on childbearing desires.

Discussion: Although there are important differences in childbearing desires between religious groups, the findings of the present study are consistent with  

theories of Kaufman and Skirbekk (2012) which state that religious affiliation plays a secondary role  in  explaining patterns of childbearing.