Viewpoints of Health care Providers About the Integrated Maternal Healthcare Program: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Maternal health program is among the most important health services. Providing convenient and high quality services, improve the mothers' health and satisfaction. This study was aimed to determine Health care providers` Viewpoints about the Integrated Maternal Healthcare Program. Methods: The present qualitative study was performed using content analysis method. Data were collected by a semi-structured interview with midwives, physicians and relevant administrators from health department of Qazvin University of medical sciences. Purposive sampling technique was continued until conceptual saturation of information. Data analysis was done simultaneously with data collection. Results: Data analysis showed three main themes of “program shortcomings”, “requirements for development” and “program facilitating points” along with ten subthemes. Conclusion: It seems that the quality of maternal health services is more favorable with new program compared to old program. But there are problems in the implementation such as long period between visits or delay in requesting sonogram in the first trimester. Therefore continuous re-evaluation and correction of program will improve quality of the program and subsequently maternal health.

Keywords

• Iran
• Maternal Health Services
• Prenatal care
• Qualitative research