title: Prevention of pregnancy complications in iran following implementing a national educational program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of a national intervention program on some pregnancy complications in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This multicenter study was conducted in governmental sector in 14 provinces in Iran between 2003 and 2005. Intervention included education of all maternal health care providers including gynecologists, general physicians, and midwifes in the governmental sector. Time interval between the pre- (of 3,978 and 3,958 pregnancies) and post- (3,958 pregnancies) measurements were 18 months. Self reported data on pregnancy complications were registered. Interviews were conducted by trained personnel. Participants were interviewed when admitted for delivery or at the time attending for vaccination of their 2 month infants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following pregnancy complications were reduced significantly as compared to before intervention: 1) bleeding or spotting, 2) urinary tract complications, 3) blurred vision and severe headache, 4) premature labor pain, 5) anemia, 6) severe vomiting, 7) inappropriate weight gain, 8) endometritis, 9) urinary incontinence, 10) breast abscess or mastitis, 11) wound infection, and 12) bleeding was significantly reduced after intervention, compared to before intervention. Premature rupture of membrane showed a significant increase. These complications did not show a significant change: 1) hypertension, 2) fever and chills, 3) convulsion, shock, and loss of consciousness, and 4) obstetric fistula.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  National programs may be proved to be largely effective by decreasing some of the pregnancy complications in developing countries.
authors: Medicine and Health Promotion Institute, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Maryam
authors: M
authors: Moghani Lankarani
authors: Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Nasrin
authors: N
authors: Changizi
authors: Medicine and Health Promotion Institute, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mohammadreza
authors: M
authors: Rasouli
authors: Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mohammad Amir
authors: MA
authors: AmirKhani
authors: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education School of Public Health University of Michigan, MI, US.
authors: Shervin
authors: S
authors: Assari
keywords: Iran; National Program; Pregnancy Complications
references: Soc Sci Med. 2004 Sep;59(6):1147-58
references: 15210087
references: J Adv Nurs. 2008 Feb;61(3):244-60
references: 18197860
references: BMC Health Serv Res. 2008 Mar 10;8:55
references: 18331626
references: JAMA. 1996 Mar 20;275(11):847-51
references: 8596222
references: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2007 Oct 11;7:23
references: 17931422
references: Am J Prev Med. 2001 Jul;21(1):52-9
references: 11418258
references: Lancet. 2001 May 19;357(9268):1565-70
references: 11377643
references: Health Policy Plan. 1999 Mar;14(1):38-48
references: 10351468
references: Health Policy Plan. 2007 Sep;22(5):303-10
references: 17681975
references: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2008 May 01;8:15
references: 18452623
references: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;(4):CD000934
references: 11687086
references: Int J Equity Health. 2007 Aug 30;6:9
references: 17760962
references: Lancet. 2001 May 19;357(9268):1551-64
references: 11377642
references: BMJ. 1996 Mar 2;312(7030):546-53
references: 8595286
references: Health Soc Care Community. 2002 Nov;10(6):492-502
references: 12485137