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Background: The World Health Organization recognizes childbirth preparation as an essential component of antenatal care, as it plays a crucial role in reducing maternal mortality and improving women's childbirth experience. Countries worldwide have implemented various interventions to assist women in preparing for childbirth, based on their own resources. This study was conducted with the aim of exploring the perspectives of pregnant and postpartum women on childbirth preparation and the facilitating and inhibiting factors, in Tabriz, Iran. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with 25 participants, selected purposively among pregnant women in weeks 37 to 40 of gestation and postpartum women within 10 days to 6 weeks after childbirth. Data collection was done through semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews using an interview guide. The data was analyzed using content analysis method with conventional approach. Results: The perspectives of pregnant and postpartum women regarding childbirth preparation revealed that factors such as maternal health during pregnancy, having an antenatal care plan, improving health literacy, and developing a birth plan were identified as crucial elements for effective childbirth preparation. Additionally, mental and emotional preparation, support, financial planning, participation in preparation classes, and awareness of childbirth methods were recognized as facilitators. On the other hand, insufficient mental and emotional preparedness, inadequate support, weak antenatal care, information deficiencies, insufficient physical activity, and a lack of a birth plan were identified as barriers. Conclusion: The findings highlight the multifaceted nature of childbirth preparedness, necessitating the involvement of families, the healthcare system, and the entire community. Utilizing the study results in strategic planning for pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, and inter-pregnancy care can enhance childbirth preparedness and contribute to achieving Iran's population rejuvenation policy goals. Plain English summary: The World Health Organization recognizes that preparing for childbirth is an important part of prenatal care. It can help reduce maternal deaths and improve women's experiences during childbirth. Countries around the world have implemented different programs to help women prepare for childbirth, based on their own resources. This study was conducted in Tabriz, Iran to understand how pregnant and recently pregnant women view childbirth preparation and what factors help or hinder it. The study involved 25 participants who were intentionally chosen from pregnant women in their last month of pregnancy and women who had given birth within the past 6 weeks by researchers. The researchers conducted in-depth interviews with each participant, using a set of questions, to gather information. From these interviews, the researchers identified several themes related to childbirth preparation. These themes included considering the mother's health during pregnancy, planning for antenatal care, promoting health literacy, creating a childbirth plan, identifying factors that help with preparation, and understanding barriers to preparation. The findings of this study highlight the complexity of preparing for childbirth and emphasize the need for involvement from families, the healthcare system, and the entire community. By utilizing these findings to develop plans prior to pregnancy, during pregnancy, and between pregnancies, we can enhance childbirth preparedness and contribute to Iran's objectives for population growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perinatal intimate partner violence is a hidden under reported and difficult to identify problem which has negative effects on mother and child. The present study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators of perinatal intimate partner violence disclosure. Methods: This qualitative study was carried out from October 2019 to January 2021 in Mashhad, Iran. Participants included 23 abused women (11 pregnant and 12 after birth) which were selected via purposive sampling. Semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussion were conducted until the data saturation was achieved. The data analysis was performed based on conventional content analysis adopted by Graneheim & Lundman. Results: The main themes "barriers to disclosure" and "facilitators of disclosure" were emerged as the result of data analysis. Barriers to disclosure included negative disclosure consequences and protection of family privacy. Facilitators of disclosure included maternal self-efficacy, threats to security, and formal and informal supportive networks. Conclusions: Most abused women did not disclose violence despite routine screening for perinatal intimate partner violence in antenatal care. Recognizing the barriers to and facilitators of violence disclosure play an important role in eliminating barriers, strengthening facilitators, providing effective supportive services for abused women, and reducing perinatal violence. Focus on the barriers to and the facilitators of disclosure will be useful to policymakers, health program planners, and health care providers to identify and manage intimate partner violence, appropriately. Plain language summary: Disclosure of perinatal intimate partner violence is a difficult decision. Several barriers prevent abused pregnant women from disclosing violence. The present study explained barriers and facilitators of perinatal intimate partner violence disclosure. 23 women (11 pregnant and 12 after birth) who experienced perinatal intimate partner violence were interviewed in Mashhad, Iran. The results showed the barriers to disclosure include negative disclosure consequences and protection of family privacy and the facilitators of disclosure include maternal self-efficacy, threats to security, and formal and informal supportive networks. In conclusion eliminating barriers and strengthen facilitators play an important role in providing effective supportive services for abused women and reducing perinatal violence. The result will be useful to policymakers, health program planners, and health care providers for appropriate management of perinatal intimate partner violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A Near Miss Mother (NMM) who survives life-threatening conditions, experiences intense physical, emotional, and psychological consequences following the maternal near-miss (MNM) events. The aim of this study was therefore to explore indepth understanding meaning of NMM everyday lived experiences on the social and cultural background of Iran. Methods: This qualitative study utilized a hermeneutic phenomenology procedure. The study was conducted in hospitals affiliated with the Educational, Research and Treatment Centerwhich usually handle the NMMs. The sampling was purposeful with a maximum variation of eleven NMMs. Datawere collected using unstructured face-to-face interviews, and thetranscribed data were analyzed using Diekelmann, Allen, and Tanner's seven-stage thematic analysis approach. Results: "Death-stricken survivor mother" was the central emerged theme, and three extracted sub-themes included: "Distorted psyche on a journey to death", "physical destruction due to an ominous event ", and the "vicissitudinous life after reviving ". These sub-themes, in turn, involved 12 sub-themes that emerged from 38 common meanings and 1200 codes. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate that the living conditions of NMMs are mixed in all aspects of the MNM event. They need a supportive program that includes additional follow-up visits, psychological support from the time of hospitalization until long-time after discharge, alleviation of social, sexual, and financial worries to return them to the normal life, as well as psychosocial rehabilitation to increase their life quality. Furthermore, post-discharge care in NMMs should be done actively and directly at their homes. Plain language summary: A maternal near miss (MNM) is a life-threatening condition experienced by a mother with organ failure due to severe maternal morbidity. Near miss mother (NMM) experiences adverse outcome such as physical, emotional, and psychological consequences after near miss event. Understanding the meaning of these mothers' lived experience and listening to their voices will help in reducing the burden of complications and will be effective in rehabilitating the disability created in their life. "Death-stricken survivor mother" was the central emerged theme resulting from the study of phenomenology. The main body of this theme reflects the severe physical, psychological burden and vicissitudes life. Server maternal morbidity due pregnancy and childbirth, have made NMM mother's life very different from those of normal mothers. The living conditions of these mothers are mixed in all aspects of the MNM event. Long-term physical and psychological damages they have endured, should be on the agenda of women's health policy makers to support them for years after discharge with integrated care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Disrespect and abuse (D&A) can violate human rights, affect women's decisions on the type of delivery method, and exacerbate their mental health conditions; therefore, this study aims to: a) assess the status of D&A and respectful maternity care (RMC) during childbirth and their relationships with childbirth experience, socio-demographic and obstetrics characteristics; b) explain women's perceptions of various RMC aspects and determinants during childbirth; and c) present a guideline for promoting of RMC. Methods/design: A mixed methods sequential explanatory design will be used to conduct this study in 3 phases. The first phase is a quantitative study with a longitudinal descriptive-analytical design to identify any D&A and RMC and their relationships with childbirth experience among 334 women who have given birth in public and private hospitals in Tabriz, Iran. The sample will be selected proportional to each population. The second phase is a qualitative study to explore women's perceptions of various RMC aspects and their determinants during childbirth. The conventional content analysis approach will be used to analyze the data. The third phase is focused on developing a guideline to improve the quality of maternity care. The literature review, findings of phase one and two, and focus group discussion (FGDs) with staff in the labour ward and using a Delphi technique will be used to complete the final phase. Discussion: Considering the vulnerability of women during labor and delivery and the effect of D&A on cesarean section rates, a supportive guideline can improve the quality of maternity care and reduce D&A during childbirth, and improve women's childbirth experiences. Ethical code: IR.TBZMED.REC.1398.202. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Considering that individuals' health practices can affect the health of both mothers and babies, this study is designed to: (a) assess adolescent pregnant women's health practices and their relationship with maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes; (b) explore the perception of adolescent pregnant women about their own health practices; and (c) recommend some strategies to improve adolescent pregnant women's health practices during pregnancy. Methods/design: This mixed-method study with the sequential explanatory design has two phases. The first phase (quantitative phase) is a prospective study to assess the adolescent pregnant women's health practices and its relationship with maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes who live in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. A cluster sampling method will be used to select 316 adolescent pregnant women who visit health centers in Tehran. The second phase is a qualitative study designed to explore the adolescent pregnant women's perception of important aspects and factors of health practices that can affect their health outcomes. In this phase, purposive sampling and in-depth individual interviews will be conducted for data collection. The conventional content analysis approach will be employed for data analysis. In addition to literature review and nominal group technique, the findings of the qualitative and quantitative phases, will be used to recommend some strategies to support adolescent pregnant women to improve their health practices during pregnancy. Discussion: This is the first study looking into health practices in adolescent pregnant women which will be performed via a mixed-method approach, aiming to develop health practices improvement strategies. It is worth noting that there is no strategic guideline in Iran's health system for improvement of health practices of adolescents. Therefore, it is hoped that the strategy proposed in the current study can enhance health practices of adolescents during pregnancy and ultimately improve their pregnancy and childbirth outcomes. Ethical code: IR.TBZMED.REC.1397.670. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]