Providing sexual health services by midwives in comprehensive health centers: A qualitative study from Iran - Payesh (Health Monitor)
Volume 22, Issue 1 (January-February 2023)                   Payesh 2023, 22(1): 61-72 | Back to browse issues page

Ethics code: IR.SBMU.RETECH.REC.1397.055


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1- Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Geriatric Care Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
2- Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3- Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
4- Department of Biostatics, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract:   (991 Views)
Objective (s): Sexual health is one of the most important aspects of health However, few healthcare providers are capable of sexual counseling skill in clinical environments. Considering that in Iran most of the reproductive and sexual health services are provided in comprehensive health centers by midwives, the present study was conducted to explain the factors related to the provision of sexual health services by midwives in these centers.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in Rafsanjan, Iran in 2018-2019. Participants were 16 midwives, 7 key informants, and 6 women who referred to comprehensive health centers. Data were collected through 3 sessions of focus group discussion and 8 semi-structured interviews and analyzed via the conventional content analysis method. MAXQDA 10 software was used to perform analysis.
Results: In all 87 codes, 27 sub-categories, and 9 categories were extracted. Further examination of the categories led to emergent of three main themes: ‘professional competence of midwives in providing sexual health services’, ‘educational gap in sexual health’, and restrictions to providing sexual health services’.
Conclusion: The results showed that due to the lack of adequate education in sexual health and obstacles such as attitudes of policymakers, limited time and resources, and cultural issues, sexual health services are not provided proficiently. Indeed, considering the professional capacity of midwives, revising the midwifery educational curriculum in sexual health, is recommended.
Full-Text [PDF 1171 kb]   (697 Downloads)    
type of study: Descriptive | Subject: Reproductive Health
Received: 2022/12/28 | Accepted: 2023/01/18 | ePublished ahead of print: 2023/01/22 | Published: 2023/02/7

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