Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research1735-906631220260517290297ENDepartment of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, IranResearch Center for Nursing and Midwifery Care, Comprehensive Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran1.Department of Midwifery, Maybod Branch, Islamic Azad University, Maybod, Iran,2.Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,Center for Healthcare Data Modeling, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, IranResearch Center for Nursing and Midwifery Care, Comprehensive Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran,2026051620260516<p><strong>Background: </strong>Childbearing is the key factor influencing the demographic pyramid of communities. Today, couples’ reduced desire to have children or delay it has exerted many adverse effects on various social dimensions. Thus, this study determined the effect of counseling based on motivational interviewing on childbearing intention in single‑child women. <strong>Materials and Methods: </strong>This parallel randomized clinical trial was conducted between January 2023 and May 2024 at Rahmat Abad Comprehensive Health Center in Yazd, Iran. Ninety single‑child women were randomized to intervention and control groups. The data collection tools included the Child‑bearing Motivation Questionnaire and the Demographic Information Questionnaire, which were completed before, immediately after, and 2 months after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16, independent t‑tests, analysis of variance with repeated measures, and chi‑square test. <strong>Results: </strong>There was a significant difference in the score of intention to childbearing between the intervention and control groups immediately (t 88 = 11.435, <em>p </em>&lt; 0.001) and 2 months after intervention (t 88 = 13.591, <em>p </em>&lt; 0.001), and the mean score of the intention to childbearing in each time was greater in intervention group compared to the control group. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the dimensions of intention to childbearing (positive motivation for childbearing, fertility preferences, fertility concerns, and social beliefs) immediately (<em>p </em>&lt; 0.001) and 2 months after the intervention (<em>p </em>&lt; 0.001) between the intervention and control groups. <strong>Conclusions: </strong>Considering the effectiveness of counseling based on the motivational interview approach, it is suggested that this method be implemented in health centers for single‑child mothers to help increase childbearing.</p><p> </p>http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/view/2372http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/download/2372/70707961