Inner voice of pregnant women: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Spirituality becomes more significant and evident during crises like pregnancy; therefore, it is crucial for healthcare providers to be supportive during pregnancy through exploring and understanding the meaning of spirituality for pregnant women. This study aimed to discover the experiences of Iranian pregnant women regarding spirituality. Materials and Methods: This qualitative, inductive, content analysis study was performed in 11 pregnant women (28-36 weeks' gestation) who attended the healthcare centers of Karaj, Iran. The subjects were selected by purposive sampling and invited to participate in the study. The data were collected through semi-structured, face-to-face, and in-depth interviews and were analyzed using the inductive content analysis approach. Results: Three major themes emerged during data analysis: 'permeable transcendence,' including 'spiritual awareness of mother,' 'spiritual light of baby,' and 'personal transformation and improvement.' 'Doubled responsibility' comprised two subthemes of 'spiritual nourishment for mother' and 'spiritual nourishment for child,' and 'spiritual circumstance' consisted of two subthemes of 'religious background' and 'spirituality of healthcare provider.' Conclusions: Considering the importance of spirituality and religion in gestational health promotion, the results of this study can assist healthcare providers in recognizing the women's spiritual needs and valuing the protective role of religious/spiritual well-being during pregnancy.