Being Single as a Social Barrier to Access Reproductive Healthcare Services by Iranian Girls

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Student Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

4 Department of Islamic Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background
Iranian single women are deprived of reproductive healthcare services, though the provision of such services to the public has increased. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Iranian single women on their access to reproductive health services.
 
Methods
A qualitative design using a conventional content analysis method was used. Semi-structured interviews were held with 17 single women and nine health providers chosen using the purposive sampling method.
 
Results
Data analysis resulted in the development of three categories: ‘family’s attitudes and performance about single women’s reproductive healthcare,’ ‘socio-cultural factors influencing reproductive healthcare,’ and ‘cultural factors influencing being a single woman.’
 
Conclusion
Cultural and contextual factors affect being a single woman in every society. Therefore, healthcare providers need to identify such factors during the designing of strategies for improving the facilitation of access to reproductive healthcare services.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 19 January 2016
  • Revise Date: 05 August 2016
  • Accept Date: 06 August 2016
  • First Publish Date: 01 March 2017

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