title: Iranian women and care providers' perceptions of equitable prenatal care: A qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Equity as a basic human right builds the foundation of all areas of primary healthcare, especially prenatal care. However, it is unclear how pregnant women and their care providers perceive the equitable prenatal care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to explore Iranian women's and care providers' perceptions of equitable prenatal care.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, a qualitative approach was used. Individual in-depth unstructured interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of pregnant women and their care providers. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis method.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 10 pregnant women and 10 prenatal care providers recruited from six urban health centers across Ahvaz, a south western city in Iran, were participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was approved by the Ethics Committee affiliated to Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. The ethical principles of voluntary participation, confidentiality, and anonymity were considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of participants' interviews resulted in seven themes: guideline-based care, time-saving care, nondiscriminatory care, privacy-respecting care, affordable comprehensive care, effective client-provider relationships, and caregivers' competency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings explain the broader and less discussed dimensions of equitable care that are valuable information for the realization of equity in care. Understanding and focusing on these dimensions will help health policy-makers in designing more equitable healthcare services for pregnant women.
authors: Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors: Mahin
authors: M
authors: Gheibizadeh
authors: Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Iran habedi@khuisf.ac.ir.
authors: Heidar Ali
authors: HA
authors: Abedi
authors: Tarbiat Modares University, Iran.
authors: Easa
authors: E
authors: Mohammadi
authors: Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors: Parvin
authors: P
authors: Abedi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D000069576:Health Equity / Q000592:standards*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007492:Iran; D010465:Perception; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Care; equitable care; equity; prenatal care; qualitative research