Being Single As a Social Barrier to Access Reproductive Healthcare Services by Iranian Girls Publisher Pubmed

Summary: A study found cultural barriers limit single Iranian women’s access to reproductive health services, urging tailored care. #WomensHealth #ReproductiveCare

Kohan S¹ ; Mohammadi F² ; Mostafavi F³ ; Gholami A⁴
Source: International Journal of Health Policy and Management Published:2017

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. © 2017, Kerman University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.