Spiritual health care during pregnancy from Iranian mothers’ perspective: a qualitative study with content analysis approach

Abstract

ABSTRACTPregnancy and childbirth provide ideal conditions for spiritual enrichment. This study aimed to investigate the spiritual health care experiences of mothers during pregnancy in Iran. In this qualitative content analysis study, 48 semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted with 36 women who were pregnant or had recent experience of successful pregnancy. Subjects were selected by purposive sampling and data accuracy and trustworthiness were checked using Lincoln and Guba’s criteria. For data analysis, a conventional content analysis approach was used. One theme and four categories were found in this study. Mothers were shown to be attentive about spiritual health care during pregnancy through caring for the spiritual growth of the self, the child, the family, and the community. The mothers’ experiences during pregnancy can serve as a guide for healthcare planners to develop a proper spiritual health promotion programme.