“Caring for my family integrity”: Fertile couples’ first childbearing experience in the urban society of Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Background: This qualitative study was conducted to discover fertile couples’ experiences of having their first child in the urban society of Mashhad, Iran. Methods: In this grounded theory study, 45 participants were selected. In-depth interviews were conducted at health centres, homes and workplaces. Data analyses were carried out adopting Strauss and Corbin's mode of analysis through a constant comparative method applying open, axial and selective coding using MAXqda software. Study rigour was verified via prolonged engagement with participants, member check and debriefing with peers. Results: The core category that describes couples’ experience of having their first child was ‘caring for my family integrity’. The process of first-time childbearing included four interrelated stages: (1) gaining confidence about the spouse's capability for being a parent, (2) evaluating situational conditions to make a decision whether to try to become pregnant, (3) managing childbearing across the life course and (4) parental role attainment. Conclusion: Couples’ decisions about having their first child are influenced by their mutual relationship and the results of their evaluation of a variety of circumstantial, economic, child-training abilities and health-related conditions. Both planned and unplanned events influence childbearing experiences. It is important to comprehend the four-stage process and apply it in reproductive health care especially in the delivery of family planning services.

Keywords::

• Childbearing
• Reproduction
• fertility
• behaviour

Acknowledgements

This article is part of a PhD thesis focused on the social processes underlying couples’ fertility behavior in Iran, which has been approved by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran (Code: 89423). The financial support provided by Vice Chancellor for Research, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences is highly appreciated. The authors also express their gratitude to the study participants for their valuable contribution during the research work.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

No competing financial interests exist.