Experience of Unplanned Pregnancy in Women Attending to Health Centers of Mashhad, Iran: A Phenomenological Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Lecturer of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor , Department of Biostatistics, Health Sciences Research Center, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Management, Health Sciences Research Center, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Unplanned pregnancy is a major social and public health issue in Iran that has adverse impacts on mothers and infants' health. The aim of this study was to explore women’s experiences of unplanned pregnancy in Mashhad health centers.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with a phenomenological approach in 2012. Purposive sampling method was conducted till data saturation and sample size was 10 women with unwanted pregnancy. Data were collected by using in-depth interviews and by a semi-constructed questionnaire. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and then were analyzed by Colaizzi's method.
Results: Exposure to stress (psychological reactions, coping, decision and attempt to abortion), justification (causes of knowing of unwanted pregnancy, causes of unwanted pregnancy occurrence), changing role (changing in maternal role, changing in role of spouse, changing in daily roles) and reaction of others were the main and subthemes in this study.
Conclusion: Women with unplanned pregnancy have severe mental and psychological stress during pregnancy. Health personnel should help women and their partners through this critical period.

Keywords

References

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