Divorce Indices, Causes and Implemented Interventions in Iran

Abstract

Background: Divorce is considered as one of the most important social harm. This Study aimed to studying the divorce trends, causes and implemented interventions. Methods: A qualitative approach with content analysis method was conducted. The Data was collected by reviewing relevant documents such as scientific articles and official reports, interviewing experts and holding focus group discussion. Sampling was performed with purposive sampling and snowball technique to identify experts and professionals. Results: In recent years, the trend of divorce-to-marriage ratio has been increasing, and in 2016, it has reached its highest level (25.3 per 100 marriages). Weak literacy and marital-skills, changing patterns of matching, increased individualism and self-interest seeking, unemployment, addiction and cyber ads (online advertising) were considered as the most important reasons for divorce in experts’ view. At present a program for controlling and decreasing divorce rate is implementing but the most important challenges of the program are weak inter-sect oral collaboration and community participation, providing dispersing and islanding social services and also the effect of political, economic, social, technological, environmental and international macro factors on mentioned national program. Conclusion: Social harms inside family are complicated. So, it requires planning and providing scattered and islanding services in form of comprehensive social care units for target population throughout the country. Also capacity building and national programs institution literacy should be strengthened.