Investigating Spatial-Physical Consequences of Polygamy Phenomenon in Border Villages of Iran (Case Study: Hirmand County)

Purpose- The most common type of marriage in Iran is monogamy, however polygamy is sometimes happening. It seems that the situation of polygamy, as well as the causes and factors involved in it, is varied in different geographic regions and even within the geographical regions of Iran. Also, the phenomenon in different regions will have many physical consequences. So, the basic question is, given the particular geographical situation and ethnic diversity in the region, what are the physical consequences of polygamy on rural settlements in Hirmand County? The purpose of this study was to analyze the situation and spatial consequences of polygamy phenomenon in rural areas of Hirmand County in Sistan and Baluchistan province, Iran.Design/methodology/approach- The research is descriptive-analytical and based on, field studies and completion households’ questionnaires. The statistical population of the study consisted of 303 villages, which after the consultation with members of the councils, local experts in the study area, 30 villages with prevailing occurrence of polygamy had been selected by proportional allocation method according to their destination to the border. SPSS and ArcGIS soft wares were used for data and statistical analysis and zoning.Findings- The results of the study confirm that the less distance between the villages of Hirmand County from the border of Iran and Afghanistan, the more polygamy cases in villages within a radius of 5 km of the border is more common than other villages. In this regard, the results of Kendall test confirm the significant relationship between this lifestyle and its impact on the physical development of villages.Originality / Value- A review in the literature of research shows that this issue has not been taken into consideration in previous studies related to the field of geography. To this regard, the study, understanding the necessity and importance of this issue, sought to study and analyze the situation of polygamy as well as to analyze its physical consequences on the rural settlements in Hirmand County.