Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Informational needs of pregnant women following the prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies: A qualitative study in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Morvarid Irani
. Talat Khadivzadeh 1
. Seyyed Mohsen Asghari Nekah 2
. Hosein Ebrahimipour 3

1 Department of Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

2 Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

3 Department of Health Sciences, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: An appropriate exchange of information between the health‑care provider and
the family is an important component of coping with stress following the prenatal diagnosis of fetal
anomalies. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the informational needs of pregnant
women following a prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies in Mashhad, Iran.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This qualitative, conventional, content analysis study was designed
through two referral centers for fetal anomaly. The data were collected from April 2017 to January
2018 in Mashhad (Iran) through individual semi‑structured in‑depth interviews, from 25 pregnant
women with a prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies.
RESULTS: Three categories and nine subcategories emerged. Category 1, information needed for
clarifying the diagnosed anomaly and making a decision, containing four subcategories: The need to
know the reasons of doing more diagnostic tests; The need to know the facts regarding the anomaly
and its cause; The need for more information to gain control over the situation; and The need to know
about legal permission for therapeutic abortion. Category 2, Information needed for preparing to the
future, containing three subcategories: Practical and economic issues; The delivery and postnatal
situation; and Future mortality and morbidity of especial anomaly. Category 3, the adequacy of the
information provided, containing two subcategories: Information overload and Inadequate information.
CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women receiving a prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomaly have a variety
of information needs that are not adequately met by the health‑care providers. Further research is
required for finding a means to meeting this information need.

Keywords

Congenital abnormalities
pregnant women
prenatal diagnosis
qualitative research
informational needs
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 9, Issue 2
February 2019
Pages 1-7

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