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Background: Since there was no study on the effect of auriculotherapy on reducing the use of oxytocin and labor length, the present study is aimed to investigate this issue. Methods: The present study was a randomized clinical trial with two parallel arms, without blinding, which was performed on 93 nulliparous women. Setting this study was done in one of the referral hospitals in Qom, Iran. The samples were randomly assigned to two groups: oxytocin (n = 47) or auriculotherapy and oxytocin (n = 46). After hospitalization of mothers in the active phase, in one group, 10- unit oxytocin was administered for augmentation, and in the second intervention group, the auriculotherapy technique, in addition to oxytocin, was performed. the master points zero, Shenmen, endocrine, thalamic, uterine, prostaglandin points, vagina on the earlobe area. The points were stimulated with the Pointer Plus electric device for 30 seconds, and 60 minutes later, the other ear was stimulated. The results were analyzed by SPSS 22, T-test statistical analysis, and Chi-square test. Results: Regarding the main purpose of the study, the results showed that the length of the active phase indicated a significant decrease in the auriculotherapy group compared to the oxytocin group (244.86 ± 64.19 vs. 284 ± 62.75, p = 0.01). The other purpose of the study showed that the mean of oxytocin consumption significantly decreased in the auriculotherapy group. Conclusion: It seems that auriculotherapy is an appropriate alternative method for labor augmentation.

Background and Objectives: Preconception care involves health promotion, screening, and interventions for women and men to reduce the risk factors with the potential effect on their future pregnancies; the present research is aimed at investigating the effect of planned behavior theory on the knowledge, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior, self-control, intention, and practices of preconception care. Methods: This is a controlled randomized trial study to examine the impacts on the intentions and conductance of the preconception care among the women referring to a marriage consulting center. To this end, 110 women referring to the marriage counseling centers of Asad Abad city in Iran were selected and then divided into two groups. The educational sessions were held twice a week in four 60-minute sessions for the intervention group, while the control group received no intervention. Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney and ϰ2 were employed for data analysis at the significance level of 0.05. The reliability of the tools was evaluated using Cronbach Alpha. Findings: The results indicated a significant difference between the two groups in terms of awareness (14.27 ± 1.53 vs. 5.32 ± 2.95), attitudes (45.89 ± 3.52 vs. 36.36 ± 6.77), subjective norms (30.01 ± 3.34 vs. 26.38 ± 4.10), and perceived behavioral control (23.10 ± 2.06 vs. 18.87 ± 4.61) for the intervention and control groups, respectively (P = 0.001). Also, 89% of the intervention group (vs. 4% of the controls) tried to make the record for preconception care. Conclusion: The theory of planned behavior can effectively improve awareness, attitude, and perceived behavioral control in women. This theory also improved the behavioral intention of women toward preconception care. The midwives and physicians are recommended to use this educational method in health centers to motivate the women to take preconception counseling with the help of health providers. Trial registration: This study was registered in the Iranian registry of clinical trials with the code IRCT2015121425529N1 in 2016.04.17

Background and Objective: Maternal health is one of the main factors influencing pregnancy outcomes. Women at childbearing age with poor health are at higher risks. In this context, preconception planning and receiving care services are of great importance for early identification and diagnosis of risk factors for pregnancy. The present study assessed the theoretical structures of planned behavior for the intention of preconception care. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was performed on 200 women selected using a simple random sampling method in Asadabad, located in the west of Iran, in 2015. The tool used for collecting data was a researcher-made questionnaire containing the theoretical construct of planning behavior. It included the constructs of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, and behavioral and functional intentions. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were examined before conducting the research. SPSS 16 using multiple logistic regression and Pearson correlation coefficient test was used to analyze data. Results: The mean and standard deviation of the knowledge were 6.39 ± 3.31, attitude (37.37 ± 4.21), subjective norms (21.12 ± 3.25), perceived behavior control (9.6 ± 2.23), and behavioral intention (26.7 ± 4.06). There was a direct and significant correlation between the construct of subjective norms and intention (p=0.039, r=0.146). The construct of attitude and subjective norms were the most important predictor variables of changes in women's intention of preconception care. Moreover, no statistically significant relationship was observed between intention and the person's age, spouse's education, the person's occupation, and women's education (p>0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, it is suggested to emphasize creating positive attitudes and subjective norms while designing educational interventions in order to increase the coverage of preconception care.

Background: Healthy and satisfying sex life is one of the important elements of well-being and quality of life in women. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of sexual counseling on self-efficacy, assertive sexual communication, self-awareness, sexual attitude, awareness of sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV in addicted women in mandatory drug treatment camps. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted on 68 women in two groups (intervention = 34, control = 34). The intervention group received the counseling program. The control group received routine services from the rehabilitation center. Results: The results showed that in the intervention group, 31 (100) before the intervention and 26 (86.7) 4 weeks after intervention (p = 0.05), had heard the name of STDs (p = 0.28). Moreover, 12 (38.7) participants in the intervention group and 12 (38.7) in the control group could name 4 symptoms of STDs in women 4 weeks after intervention (p = 0.001). Additionally, the sexual attitude was 44.64 ± 4.21 and 45.38 ± 4.09 in the intervention group and 40.66 ± 4.50 and 39.93 ± 4.71 in the control group 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention, respectively. (p = 0.01). Moreover, the obtained results showed that the mean score of sexual knowledge was 40.25 ± 3.62, 41.74 ± 3.44 and 36.36 ± 5.37 in the intervention group 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention, showing a significant difference (p = 0.02). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that sexual knowledge, sexual attitude and selfefficacy, and sexual assertiveness could be improved through interventions based on skills and empowerment. In addition, by presenting knowledge on STDs, condom use for safe sex in addicted women can be increased.

Background: Postponing parenthood is associated with decreased number of offspring and increased pregnancy risks. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of cognitive group counseling on childless couples' decision motivation for childbearing and preconception checkup. Methods: This experimental study was performed on 62 fertile women referred to health care centers in Qom. Signing the written consent form, the participants who were selected by the convenience sampling method entered the study. Childbearing Questionnaire (CBQ) was used to collect data. 6 cognitive group counseling sessions were conducted for the intervention group while the control group did not receive any training except one session on the disadvantages of postponed childbearing by the midwife under the supervision of the researcher. After the intervention, childbearing motivation was evaluated in both groups. The samples were also evaluated in one and two months after the intervention to see whether they have referred for pre-pregnancy checkups. The data were analyzed by SPSS20 using chi-square, and independent t-test. P-value was considered to be less than 0.05. Results: The results showed that after the intervention, the mean of Positive Childbearing Motivation (PCM) in the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group and the mean of Negative Childbearing Motivation (NCM) was significantly lower than that of the control group (p Conclusion: Counseling could be more effective to motivate women to start booking for prepregnancy checkups.

Background: Dysmenorrhea is one of the most frequent pelvic pains among young women, impairing their quality of life. Objective: This research aims to investigate the effect of ginger-chamomile herbs with honey in reducing dysmenorrhea pain, associated symptoms, and the extent of bleeding. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial (IRCT No.: 2016100825031N5), 200 female students with primary dysmenorrhea, from Arak universities, were included and randomly divided into two groups. All the students were evaluated for one cycle without intervention, then group (A) received mefenamic acid (250 mg) and group (B) received ginger (1000 mg), chamomile (5000 mg), and one teaspoonful of honey for two days before and for the first three days of menstruation, three times a day, in two consecutive cycles. Pain severity, associated symptoms of dysmenorrhea, and bleeding were assessed using a visual analogue scale, Andersch-Milsom Verbal Scale, and Higham chart. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical tests through SPSS21. Results: The pain intensity in group B diminished significantly after the intervention in comparison to group A (p Conclusion: The present study indicated that the combination of the ginger-chamomile sachet with honey has the same effect as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain mitigation, and the associated symptoms reduced better than mefenamic acid.

Background: Spontaneous abortion is the most common complication of pregnancy which is considered an unfavorable experience both physically and psychologically. Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of group counseling through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on the anxiety of pregnant women with a history of spontaneous abortion. Methods: This study was randomized clinical trial type, in which convenient sampling was performed to select 64 subjects from healthcare centers in Arak province. After receiving written consent from the participants, the sampling was performed and the subjects were categorized randomly into two 32-subject groups as intervention and control. The intervention was performed as six 60- min sessions through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Control group, however, only routine cares of pregnancy were provided. For data collection, The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was utilized at the beginning and end of the study. Then, the collected information was analyzed by SPSS 21 through paired t-test, independent t-test. Results: The mean anxiety after the intervention in the intervention and control groups was 65.13±8.11 and 75.91±5.56, respectively, whereby a significant difference was observed between the two groups (p≤0.05). Conclusion: It seems that women with a previous history of abortion require psychological support during pregnancy. It is recommended that the skills of midwives also be improved to psychologically support these women.

Background: Today, breast cancer is the second major cause of cancer deaths in women. Objective: The present study aimed to determine the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on self-esteem and self-efficacy of cancer adaptation behaviors in women. Methods: The present study was a randomized educational trial (IRCT Registration number: IRCT2016100430140N1) based on intervention and control groups including 30 patients with breast cancer who were referred to Cancer comprehensive center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari 2017. The intervention group participated in ACT sessions for 8 weeks held as 8 sessions. In the control group, there was no intervention and only chemotherapy was carried out. Self-esteem and self-efficacy of cancer adaptation behaviors were assessed using Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and Cancer Behavior Inventory before and after the intervention and one month later. Data analysis was tested by repeated measurement, ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc tests. Results: The mean of self-esteem before and after intervention and one month later was 13.46 ± 1.12, 16.86 ± 0.91, 15.86 ± 0.99 in ACT group, and 14 ± 1, 14.40 ± 0.98, 14.20 ± 1.08 in the control group, respectively (F(2,27)=11.90, P=0.001). The mean of self-efficacy of cancer adjustment behaviors before and after the intervention and one month later was 104.40 ± 20.19, 218.20 ± 15.32, 214.86 ± 16.97 in ACT group, and 96.86 ± 15.04, 97.06 ± 18.61, 94.53 ± 14.69 in the control group, respectively (F(2,27)=8.26, P=0.001). Conclusion: This counseling approach can be used as an easy, non-invasive and helpful method to increase self-esteem and self-efficacy among patients for adaptation to cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the leading cause of death among women throughout the world. The incidence of breast cancer has been increasing in Iran and the disease has been the most prevalently registered cancer in the country during the past decade. Objective: Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of motivational interviewing (MI) on awareness, attitude, and practice of breast self-examination (BSE) in high-risk women. Methods: This randomized clinical trial recruited 60 rural women at higher risk of breast cancer in Babol, Iran in 2016. Thirty women from two randomly selected villages were assigned to the MI group. Two other villages were also randomly selected and 30 of their female residents were allocated to the control group. Eligible people were first identified by referring to the villages’ health centers. The participants were recruited using a table of random numbers and their informed consent was obtained. In the MI group, five 90-minutes weekly sessions of MI were held. Conventional training was conducted in the control group. All subjects completed a researcher-made questionnaire at baseline (before the intervention), at the end of the study, and three months later. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance, and Bonferroni, Friedman, Wilcoxon, and chi-square tests. Results: In the MI group, there were significant increases in women's mean scores of awareness in the first and second follow-ups compared to the baseline. Moreover, the mean score of attitude toward BSE in the MI group increased at the end of the study (P Conclusion: MI can be used alongside conventional trainings to promote and motivate screening behaviors.