title: Predictors of Prenatal Empowerment Among Iranian Pregnant Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Considering that empowering expectant mothers is an important issue to maintain a healthy pregnancy, this study was conducted to evaluate the predictors of empowerment among Iranian pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross sectional study was conducted in Golestan, North of Iran in 2015. A total number of 161 pregnant women were selected through random cluster sampling from urban health centers, using PASS software. The socio-political, educational, and mental-financial predictors of empowerment were measured using a self-structured questionnaire during pregnancy and was analyzed by a linear regression model using SPSS version 16.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings of linear regression showed that educational dimension of empowerment had the highest coefficient in the regression model, on total empowerment (βeta standardized coefficient [β]=0.696 with DW=1.830 and means error=0). The total empowerment score of pregnant women was controlled by individual factors such as the age of marriage (β-0.228), employment (β-0.210), and educational factors such as participation in prenatal education classes (β-0.246), and moral issues such as sense of spiritual support (β-0.217).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By recognizing and observing predictors of empowerment during pregnancy, health care providers can increase women's power over their pregnancy. Educational predictors of empowerment were the most important factors to empower women during pregnancy. The objective of childbirth education classes, therefore, should shift from simply giving information to women, towards giving them appropriate knowledge in order to provide them with empowerment during pregnancy.
authors: Ph.D. in Reproductive Health, Assistant Professor, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Counseling and Reproductive Health Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran; Graduate, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: Narjes Sadat
authors: NS
authors: Borghei
authors: MD, Ph.D. in Social Epidemiology, Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Management and Social Determinants of Health Research Center, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Taghipour
authors: Ph.D. in Reproductive Health, Associate Professor, Evidence-Based Care Research Centre, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: Robab Latifnejad
authors: RL
authors: Roudsari
authors: Ph.D. in Family Health, Associate Professor, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.
authors: Afsaneh
authors: A
authors: Keramat
authors: Ph.D. of Statistics, Associate Professor, Department of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: Hadi Jabbari
authors: HJ
authors: Noghabi
keywords: Empowerment; Health; Pregnancy