A reproductive and sexual health promotion program for women with heart diseases: A protocol for mixed methods study

Nowadays, for various reasons, the prevalence of heart diseases has increased in women during reproductive age. These diseases can lead to serious reproductive and sexual‑related complications in the affected women. This study will conduct to develop a reproductive health promotion program for women with heart diseases.

This is an exploratory sequential mixed methods study that will be conducted in four phases. The first phase is a qualitative research that is done using content analysis method and semi‑structured individual interviews. The experiences of women with heart disease and health providers’ team in educational hospitals, health centers, and private offices of physicians about reproductive health need will be explored. Purposive sampling will be continued until data saturation is reached and the conventional content analysis method will be used. In the second phase, the studies published from 2000 to 2020 will be reviewed by the matrix method and then will be analyzed by using thematic analysis. Integrating the results of these two stages, the draft of the program will be designed. In the third phase, the validation of the program will be checked by using the two‑round modified Delphi method. In the fourth phase, the program will be implemented by the health system and its process will be monitored.

A life cycle reproductive health program for women with heart disease can help improve their preconception health, fertility planning, and sexual health and promote the well‑being of these women in the long run.