Exploring Men's Perception of Participating in the Natural Childbirth Process: A Qualitative Content Analysis.
Leila Bozorgian, Mozhgan Javadnoori, Mina Iravani and 1 others
PMID 41608534WHAT IT FOUND
Fifteen Iranian men wanted to learn how to support vaginal birth but feared pain, stigma and staff refusal.
They asked for classes for men and delivery settings that accept them.
Key findings
01Men described weak awareness of their role, the birth process, and their partner's preferences as barriers to participating in childbirth.
02Men reported fear of seeing their wife suffer, feeling powerless, social stigma, and poor communication with providers.
03Men asked for training courses, health system support, and cultural change to make participation possible.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 15 men were studied, all from Ahvaz, Iran, so the themes may not fit other places. Participants were men who already accompanied pregnant wives to health centers, so men who avoid care were missed. The study reports perceptions only. It did not test classes, partner presence, or any change in maternal or infant outcomes.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat these men's preferences as evidence that classes or partner presence improve birth outcomes. The study only described what 15 men said; it did not test any intervention.