Explaining the Experiences of Common Causes of Death among Pregnant Mothers in the Least Privileged Province of the Country (A qualitative Study)

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnancy is a natural process in every woman's life, leading to the birth of a child. Since the fate of pregnancy can end in death, an in-depth study of the influential factors in the reduction of maternal mortality rate can significantly improve care programs for pregnant mothers. Method: This qualitative research was performed in the health services of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in 2021. In-depth individual semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The interviews were conducted based on the interview guide. To evaluate the correctness and reliability, four indices were used, including reliability, validity and acceptability, verifiability, and transferability. The contractual content method was used for analysis. Results: In this research, 27 subjects were included, and 67 primary concepts were obtained. In the analysis of the interviews, in the coding stage, six subcategories and, finally, three main categories (individual factors, social factors affecting health, and service provision) were extracted. Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of this study, the provision of health services was not optimal. In order to effectively reduce the ratio of maternal deaths, it is necessary to pay attention to the quantity and quality of care before, during, and after childbirth, as well as targeted training. Increasing the coverage and quality of pregnancy care, improving the quality of family planning counseling, and improving the skills and knowledge of the medical and midwifery staff in the field of postpartum care will be among the most critical effective measures in reducing maternal mortality