Integration of Gendersensitive Approach to Safe Motherhood Program for the Prevention of STD/ HIV in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Background aim: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) present a serious public health burden, which are considered as the factors contributing to acute illnesses, infertility, longterm disability, and mortality. The aim of the present study was to provide an indepth understanding of the participants perceptions about the integration of gendersensitive approach to safe motherhood program for the prevention of STIs/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Iran. Methods: This qualitative exploratory study was conducted on 32 male and female key informants, including health managers, health policy makers, and reproductive health providers. The participants were selected through the purposive sampling method, followed by the snowball sampling technique. The data collection was performed using the semistructured interviews. The data were analyzed through the content analysis. Results: Based on the results, the participants’ perceptions were categorized into two categories, namely the STIs/HIV prevention among males in safe motherhood and gendersensitivity in primary maternal STIs/HIV prevention. Each of the patients was further divided into codes. The first category includes accountability to mens own sexual health needs’ and prevention of illhealth effects of men on women’s STIs/HIV status and the second category includes (1) condom negotiation skills in women (2) mandatory premarital HIV test policy, (3) partner notification guidelines, (4) STI/HIV risk assessment in safe motherhood services, and (5) women’s rightbased instruction for prenatal HIV screening in private services. Conclusion: As the findings of the present study indicated, the health policy makers were not adequately sensitive to gender sensitivity, which is particularly crucial for STIs/HIV prevention in the safe motherhood programs.