Iranian Mothers Research Articles

The Effect of Tele-Continuous Care on Maternal Functioning and Neonatal Perception among Iranian Primiparous Mothers: A Randomized Field Trial Study

Background/Objectives: New mothers face significant challenges during the postpartum period, which can impact their maternal performance. This study aimed to assess the effect of tele-continuous midwifery care on maternal functioning and neonatal perception in first-time Iranian mothers. Methods: A randomized controlled field trial was conducted from January to May 2023 on 48 first-time mothers in the postpartum ward at Arash Women’s Hospital, Tehran. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group. The intervention group received tele-continuous care for six weeks postpartum, while the control group received standard care. The Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF) and the Neonatal Perception Inventory (NPI) were used to collect data in the second and sixth weeks after delivery. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26. Results: The mean age was 26.2 ± 4.8 years in the intervention group and 28.0 ± 6.1 years in the control group. An independent t-test revealed a significant difference in maternal functioning (BIMF score) between the intervention and control groups by the sixth week postpartum (p < 0.0001). A significant improvement in BIMF scores was observed within the intervention group from the second to the sixth week (p = 0.007). However, the Mann–Whitney test showed no significant difference in neonatal perception (NPI scores) within the intervention group (p = 0.219), while a significant difference was found in the control group (p = 0.007). Conclusions: Tele-continuous midwifery care effectively enhances maternal functioning during the vulnerable postpartum period, highlighting the necessity of ongoing support for new mothers.

Risk factors and clinical features of pre-eclampsia in Iranian and Afghan mothers: A comparative study.

To assess variations in the presentation and clinical implications of pre-eclampsia between Iranian and Afghan mothers at a maternity center in Tehran. We conducted a cross-sectional study of Iranian and Afghan mothers diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. Data were collected from March 2021 to February 2023 at a maternity center in Tehran, Iran. Demographic information, clinical characteristics, and laboratory findings were extracted from medical records. Statistical analyses were employed to compare differences between Iranian and Afghan mothers, including Mann-Whitney U, Pearson χ2 tests, and logistic regression models. We included 822 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, predominantly Iranian (75.5%) and Afghan (24.5%). Regarding the multivariate logistic regression model, Iranian mothers were older, with a higher proportion over 35 years. Although Afghan mothers showed higher gravidity counts and greater gestational ages at delivery, they had lower rates of hypothyroidism. Iranian women were more often categorized as obese than Afghan women, and the difference was statistically significant. Serum levels of alkaline phosphatase were significantly greater in Afghan women. Pre-eclampsia poses significant maternal health risks, especially among Afghan refugees in Iran. Variances in age, gravidity, and hypothyroidism prevalence highlight the need for tailored healthcare strategies. Addressing cultural barriers and implementing targeted interventions can improve maternal and fetal outcomes in these populations.

Prevalence of Preeclampsia and Eclampsia in Iran: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Preeclampsia is a major contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. A previous systematic review was carried out in Iran in 2014. Due to the importance of this issue, a current evaluation is necessary after ten years. This research was performed to determine the prevalence of preeclampsia and eclampsia in Iran. Adhering to the PRISMA guideline, we searched English databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Persian databases including SID, Magiran, and IranMedex on August 20, 2023, to identify studies reporting the prevalence of preeclampsia or eclampsia in Iran. Employing a focused term strategy and eligibility criteria, we ultimately included 55 studies in this review. After conducting a thorough evaluation, the CMAV3 software was utilized to analyze the data using the random effects model and calculate pooled results. The overall prevalence of preeclampsia among Iranian mothers was 5.3%, while eclampsia accounted for 0.1% of live births. Notably, preeclampsia rates have risen since 2015, whereas eclampsia rates have declined over time. Single-variable meta-regression results indicated a negative correlation between age and preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is increasing among Iranian mothers, requiring an investigation into its risk factors, including maternal age, and consequently, high-risk pregnancies. Conversely, the decreasing occurrence of eclampsia indicates an enhancement in the quality of care following a preeclampsia diagnosis.

Caregiving Ability of Mothers of Children With Cancer: Qualitative Content Analysis.

Childhood cancer confronts the child and the parents with considerable degrees of stress. Because caring for the child is mainly the role of the mother in most families, her ability to take care of the affected child is very important. To explore the caregiving ability of Iranian mothers who have children diagnosed with cancer. In this present study, which was conducted using the Directed Qualitative Content Analysis Method, 11 parents having children diagnosed with cancer and 5 professional caregivers working at the Department of Hematology and Oncology of Mofid Children Hospital in Tehran, Iran, were selected using purposeful sampling method. Data were collected through semistructured interviews. Data analysis was performed simultaneously with data collection using the Directed Content Analysis Approach. Five main categories emerged, namely, care exhaustion, care confusion, spiritual conflict, care competence, and care preparedness that represent the beneficiaries' perception of the caring ability of Iranian mothers of cancer-afflicted children. Study results revealed that the caregiving capacity of mothers nurturing cancer-stricken children can be evaluated across 5 domains, encompassing a spectrum of maternal requirements in child care. Improving these domains can elevate maternal caregiving proficiency, fostering self-care and enhancing care for the ailing child. A program can be developed based on the findings of the present study, in order to improve the caring ability of mothers of cancer-afflicted children, which results in improving the mother's care for her cancer-afflicted child.

Iranian Mothers’ Perspectives about Aspects and Determining Factors of Respectful Maternity Care During Labor and Delivery: A Qualitative Study

Iranian Mothers’ Perspectives about Aspects and Determining Factors of Respectful Maternity Care During Labor and Delivery: A Qualitative Study

Predictors of Nutritional Behaviors in Iranian Mothers of Children Under Two Years in 2022

Background and Purpose: To attain sustainable development in the future, society requires healthy individuals, with particular emphasis on monitoring the health status of present-day children. Therefore, the present study investigated the most important predictors of nutritional behaviors in Iranian mothers of children under two years. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Nowshahr Health Center between January and July 2022. It involved 400 mothers with children aged 6 to 24 months, randomly selected in a cluster proportional to the volume. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire comprising 25 questions based on the TPB (attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention). The analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 22. Results: In this study, the Mean±SD of participating mothers ages was 25.3±0.92 years. The results showed that among the constructs of the TPB, perceived behavioral control and subjective norms were the most important predictors of healthy nutritional behaviors among mothers, with a change variance of 20%. Conclusion: The findings of this study have implications for health professionals, policymakers, and developers of educational and behavioral interventions aimed at developing healthy nutritional behaviors. In this regard, managing and utilizing favorable healthy nutritional behaviors among mothers could yield economic, social, and health benefits.

Development and psychometric evaluation of "Caring Ability of Mother with Preterm Infant Scale" (CAMPIS): a sequential exploratory mixed-method study.

Caring ability is one of the most important indicators regarding care outcomes. A valid and reliable scale for the evaluation of caring ability in mothers with preterm infants is lacking. The present study was conducted with the aim of designing and psychometric evaluation of the tool for assessing caring ability in mothers with preterm infants. A mixed-method exploratory design was conducted from 2021 to 2023. First the concept of caring ability of mothers with preterm infants was clarified using literature review and comparative content analysis, and a pool of items was created. Then, in the quantitative study, the psychometric properties of the scale were evaluated using validity and reliability tests. A maximum likelihood extraction with promax rotation was performed on 401 mothers with the mean age of 31.67 ± 6.14years to assess the construct validity. Initial caring ability of mother with preterm infant scale (CAMPIS) was developed with 64 items by findings of the literature review, comparative content analysis, and other related questionnaire items, on a 5-point Likert scale to be psychometrically evaluated. Face, content, and construct validity, as well as reliability, were measured to evaluate the psychometric properties of CAMPIS. So, the initial survey yielded 201 valid responses. The three components: 'cognitive ability'; knowledge and skills abilities'; and 'psychological ability'; explained 47.44% of the total observed variance for CAMPIS with 21 items. A subsequent survey garnered 200 valid responses. The confirmatory factor analysis results indicated: χ2/df = 1.972, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.933, and incremental fit index (IFI) = 0.933. These results demonstrate good structural, convergent, discriminant validity and reliability. OMEGA, average inter-item correlation (AIC), intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for the entire scale were at 0.900, 0.27 and 0.91 respectively. Based on the results of the psychometric evaluation of CAMPIS, it was found that the concept of caring ability in the Iranian mothers with preterm infants is a multi-dimensional concept, which mainly focuses on cognitive ability, technical ability, and psychological ability. The designed scale has acceptable validity and reliability characteristics that can be used in future studies to assess this concept in the mothers of preterm infants.

Exploring Health Providers' Perspective Regarding the Needs of Adolescent Mothers During Breastfeeding: A Qualitative Study.

The prevalence of breastfeeding is less common among adolescent mothers than adult mothers. These mothers experience various issues during breastfeeding. The present study aimed to explore the normative needs of adolescent mothers during breastfeeding from health care providers' perspective. This qualitative content analysis study was conducted from October 2022 until June 2023. 14 health care providers who had worked in the field of breast milk were purposefully selected with maximum variation. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted and sampling continued until data saturation. Data analysis was performed using Graneheim and Lundman's method with MAXQDA software version 10. The main concepts obtained from the data were classified into one theme entitled, "comprehensive support", and seven categories including "need to correct wrong traditional beliefs", "educational and counseling needs", "providing quality services", "need for psychological support", "need for protective laws", "financial needs", and "the need for social network support". Adolescent mothers in Iran have various needs during breastfeeding, and they require the assistance of their families, healthcare providers, and the government to fulfill them. Therefore, it is also recommended that policymakers in the health system should design policies to accommodate the requirements of this group of mothers. In addition to policy development in the health system, the infrastructure required for policy and law to be executed should be considered.

Consumption of red and processed meat during early pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes: a prospective birth cohort study

To investigate the association of red and processed meat intake with the risk of gestational diabetes (GDM) in Iranian mothers. A total of 635 pregnant mothers were included. Dietary intake was assessed by a 90-item food frequency questionnaire during the first trimester of pregnancy. Intakes of total red meat, unprocessed red meat, and processed meat were calculated and then, Cox proportional hazard model was used to calculate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95%CIs of GDM across tertiles of red meat intake while controlling for age, occupation, pre-pregnancy body mass index, physical activities, history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and pregnancy hypertension, order of pregnancy, nausea during current pregnancy, multivitamin use during current pregnancy, weight gain during current pregnancy and total energy intake. The average age of the mothers was 28.80 ± 5.09 years, the average pre-pregnancy body mass index was 25.13 ± 4.43 kg/m2, and the average weight gain during pregnancy was 13.50 ± 5.03 kg. The multivariable-adjusted HRs of GDM for the third tertiles of red and processed meat, red meat, and processed meat intake were, respectively, 1.92 (95% CI 1.06, 3.49), 1.52 (95% CI 0.85, 2.72) and 1.31 (95% CI 0.73, 2.34) when compared to the first tertiles. Our prospective cohort study suggested that there was a positive association between the consumption of red and processed meat and with risk of GDM in a small sample of Iranian mothers with low red meat intake. More large-scale cohort studies in the Iranian population are needed to present more robust evidence in this regard.

Analyzing the Rights of Children with Imprisoned Mothers in Iran

Analyzing the Rights of Children with Imprisoned Mothers in Iran

Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale-Parent Report for screening children with ADHD: Looking beyond symptoms in ADHD diagnosis.

The current study aimed at examining the ability of the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale-Parent Report (WFIRS-P) to discriminate between children with ADHD and controls in functional impairment and identifying optimal cutoff scores for the WFIRS-P subscales and total scale. Parents of 51 children with ADHD (90.2% male; grades 1-6) and 51 gender/grade matched controls (90.2% male; grades 1-6) completed the WFIRS-P. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to examine the ability of the WFIRS-P to differentiate children with ADHD from controls and to determine optimal cutoff scores of the WFIRS-P. Area under the curve (AUC) was 0.98 for the WFIRS-P total scale, indicating excellent ability to differentiate children with ADHD from controls. The score of 0.45 with 0.88 for sensitivity and 0.96 for specificity was determined as the optimal cutoff score for the total scale of the WFIRS-P. AUC was 0.73 to 0.97 for the WFIRS-P subscales, suggesting good to excellent ability for discriminating between children with ADHD and controls. Among the subscales, the family subscale score of 0.42 with 0.92 for sensitivity and 0.96 for specificity showed the highest discriminating power. The self-concept and life skills subscales had low sensitivity, suggesting Iranian mothers do not identify problems with self-concept or difficulty with life skills as particularly problematic in ADHD. The WFIRS-P is a sensitive and specific measure of the functional impairment associated with ADHD in Iranian children. Our sample was predominantly male, limiting the generalizability of results to females.

PB1534 A Detailed Phenomenological Study on General Health of Iranian Mothers with Severe Hemophiliac Children Regarding to Applied Parenting Styles and Perceived Family Interactions

PB1534 A Detailed Phenomenological Study on General Health of Iranian Mothers with Severe Hemophiliac Children Regarding to Applied Parenting Styles and Perceived Family Interactions

Topics and Effects of Iranian Mothers’ Disclosure to Their Children: A Phenomenological Analysis

Background: Parental disclosure is a phenomenon that occurs in families to a greater or lesser extent and has different effects on children and family relationships. Some parents do not know what topics are appropriate for disclosure and what the consequences may be. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the phenomenology of Iranian mothers› disclosure, its topics, and the experienced consequences. Methods: In this qualitative study based on the descriptive phenomenological method, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 22 first-marriage mothers who had disclosure experience and at least one 10- to 30-year-old child. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. Results: Analysis of data revealed five main themes and 12 subthemes, including inappropriate disclosure topics (personal problems, problems with spouse), appropriate topics (positive or neutral comments about the spouse, financial problems, neutral and pleasant experiences, goals and viewpoints), contextual topics (negative comments about herself, communication problems with others, unpleasant experiences), positive consequences of disclosure (raising children’s awareness, improving the parent-child relationship quality), and negative consequences (undermining the parent-child relationship quality, creating negative emotions and thoughts in children). Mothers disclosed more frequently and about more diverse subjects to their children than their husbands. Conclusion: In general, the effects of mothers’ disclosure on children are different and depend on its content, and these effects are greater on adolescents. Family therapists, parent educators, and others who work with families can help mothers carefully evaluate their disclosures to establish clear and healthy communication boundaries with their children.

Evaluating the Validity and Reliability of the Knowledge, and Practice Questionnaire of Iranian Mothers About the Development of Persian-speaking Children Aged 18 to 36 Months

Objectives: The mother’s knowledge and attitude about the child’s developmental norms can affect their practice and the quality of parent-child interaction. The quality of a child’s development in the early years significantly impacts their personality and future success. Therefore, this study aims to develop and investigate the psychometric characteristics of the Iranian mother’s knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) questionnaire about the development of communication, language, speech, and swallowing of Persian-speaking children aged 18 to 36 months and comparing them. Methods: This study was a descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study conducted on 280 mothers with typically developed children aged 18 to 36 months from different provinces of Iran. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the implementation of the study, the participants were selected as available, and then the snowball completed the questionnaire in both face-to-face and online methods. To check the validity of the questionnaire, face validity was calculated using the opinion of speech therapy experts and ten mothers, and content validity was calculated using the Lawshe method. To check the reliability of the questionnaire, the test re-test method was used in a two-week interval. Results: The results indicated that this questionnaire has high validity (content validity index [CVI] >0.79) and reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]=0.90). The multiple linear regression model showed that only the mother’s age has a significant positive relationship with knowledge ([B=0.082] P=0.04) about the development of communication, language, speech, and swallowing of children aged 18 to 36 months. Socioeconomic status and the mother’s education had no significant relationship with the mother’s KAP. Also, this study showed that the mother’s knowledge, attitude, and practice about a child’s development were high (mean=16.5), positive (mean=56.44), and good (mean=60.27). Discussion: This study showed that the designed questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool that can be used to investigate the mother’s KAP about the development of communication, language, speech, and swallowing of Persian-speaking children aged 18 to 36 months. On the other hand, speech and language pathologists can use this questionnaire in related studies and clinical evaluations to have better and more knowledge of the child’s environment and the factors affecting it in Persian-speaking society.

Iranian mother’s perspectives about aspects and determinants of disrespect and abuse during labor and delivery: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT Respectful maternity care (RMC) is a crucial strategy in improving postpartum experiences of mothers. This study aimed to explain women’s perception of determining aspects and determinants of disrespect and abuse (D&A) during childbirth. This study was carried out from October 2019 to February 2020 in Tabriz-Iran. A total of 12 postpartum women were enrolled in this qualitative study by purposive sampling. The data were collected through in-depth semi structured interviews and simultaneously analyzed with a conventional content analysis approach. Thirty eight sub-themes and 11 main themes extracted from data analysis. The main themes included: “physical abuse,” “psychological violence,” “discrimination,” “violation of privacy,” “unmet needs and preferences,” “nonparticipation in decision-making,” “abandonment of women,” “Lack of sympathy,” “shortage of human and non-human resources,” “unpleasant psychological atmosphere of the ward” and “facilitators of D&A.” The results of our study indicated the importance of sympathy with mothers and professional ethics. Moreover, healthcare providers, administrators, and policy-makers should design patient-centered interventions in order to secure the material, psychological, and legal needs of women to receive respectful maternity care.

Adoption from the perspective of Iranian fertile mothers: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to explore the lived experience of fertile Iranian mothers who adopted children. In a qualitative phenomenological method, 13 participants were selected by purposive sampling and interviewed in depth. Data were analyzed by Colaizzi’s method. The results showed that although adoption was reported to be a positive experience for most mothers, it is still a kind of social stigma in Iran, and adoptive mothers face many challenges due to insufficient support and help from society and families. Also, the results will help professionals design pre-adoption interventions, prevent the termination of adoption, and help adoptive mothers solve their issues.

Relationship Between Maternal Fear and Anxiety About COVID-19 and Maternal Role Attainment in Mothers of Preterm Neonates

Background: Mothers of preterm neonates are more concerned about their babies’ health than other mothers, which causes them to be worried and anxious. Meanwhile, the possibility of catching COVID-19 may increase their worries and anxiety and negatively affect their parenting roles. This study aims to determine the relationship between maternal fear and anxiety about COVID-19 and maternal role attainment in Iranian mothers with preterm neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Methods: This descriptive correlational study was conducted from June to July 2021 in 3 level-III NICUs in Tehran, Iran. The study samples were 211 mothers of preterm neonates who were recruited by convenience sampling. The study data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Coronavirus anxiety scale, the fear of COVID-19 scale, and the maternal role adaptation scale in NICUs. The obtained data were analyzed utilizing the independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and the Pearson correlation coefficient in SPSS software, version 23. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean scores of anxiety, fear, and maternal role attainment were 11.44±3.19, 26.49±5.92, and 57.61±11.95, respectively. There were weak, positive, and significant relationships between anxiety and fear (r=0.385, P<0.001), anxiety and maternal role attainment (r=0.213, P=0.002), and some dimensions: Participation in care, distant mothering, interaction, and growth and development (P<0.05). There were also weak, positive, and significant relationships between fear and maternal role attainment (r=0.204, P=0.003) and some dimensions: Participation in care and growth and development (P<0.05). Conclusion: Considering the relationship between the fear and anxiety of COVID-19 with maternal role attainment and the special importance of this issue in NICUs, evaluating the mental health of mothers with preterm neonates and implementing effective psychological interventions to support them is recommended.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Prenatal Attitudes Toward Motherhood and Pregnancy Scale in an Iranian Population.

Background and Purpose: Mothers' attitudes toward motherhood and pregnancy are crucial to their ability to adjust themselves to motherhood. Attitudes toward motherhood and pregnancy questionnaire (PRE-MAMA) have been used in a few Iranian studies, and its validity and reliability have not been assessed yet. This study, hence, aimed to provide the psychometric properties of the PRE-MAMA in Iran. Methods: In this research, 110 pregnant women were selected through random sampling in 2020. The face, content, and construct validity of the PRE-MAMA were examined through exploratory and confirmatory analyses. The test-retest reliability and internal consistency were also employed to assess the reliability of the questionnaire. Results: The content validity index and content validity ratio of the PRE-MAMA were 0.98 and 0.97, respectively. The results of the scale-based exploratory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure of the questionnaire. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.63, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (95% Confidence Interval [CI]) was equal to 0.97 (.93-.99). Conclusion: The Iranian version of PRE-MAMA is a valid and reliable tool for assessing Iranian mothers' attitudes toward motherhood and pregnancy.

Iranian women, e-learning, and experience of motherhood in the age of COVID-19: An analysis of mothers’ lived experience of their children's e-learning

The present study aimed to explore the lived experience of Iranian mothers about the process of e-learning for their children by way of a qualitative approach and phenomenological study. Semi-structured telephone interviews were held with 28 mothers residing in Tehran (the capital of Iran) in the second half of 2021. Maximum variation sampling was carried out to recruit a variety of interviewees, and theoretical sampling was performed to reach conceptual saturation. The interview data were encoded by thematic analysis. The themes were classified into the three categories of basic, organizing, and global themes. The research findings showed that Iranian mothers have been faced with multiple challenges, burdens, and inequalities with respect to their children's e-learning during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Family-centered and mother-centered e-learning, motherhood at the intersection of multiple identities, mothers’ multiple fears and concerns, and gender inequality in parental duties constituted a major part of the lived experience of Iranian mothers during the pandemic. In total, the findings showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the multiple responsibilities of women, especially about their children, and has delegated a double burden of education responsibilities to mothers.

Effective Environmental Factors in Encouraging Iranian Mothers to Have Physiologic Birth through Facilitating it: An Exploratory Factor Analysis

Effective Environmental Factors in Encouraging Iranian Mothers to Have Physiologic Birth through Facilitating it: An Exploratory Factor Analysis