Female Healthcare Providers' Experiences of Childbearing: A Content Analysis Based on the Social Capital Theory

Social capital has potential effects on reproductive health and childbearing behaviors. However, there is limited information about its relationship with childbearing.

This study aimed to explore female healthcare providers' experiences of childbearing based on the social capital theory.

This qualitative study was conducted from July 2018 to February 2019 on 15 female healthcare workers in healthcare centers in Babol City, Iran. The participants were purposively recruited with maximum variation respecting their age, work experience, educational level, and occupation. The study data were collected through 15 semi-structured interviews and analyzed using directed qualitative content analysis.

The participants were female healthcare providers working in hospitals or healthcare centers of the University of Medical Science. Their mean±SD age and work experience were 35±8.25 and 10±7.5 years, respectively. The extracted codes during data analysis were grouped into three predetermined main categories, namely structural social capital (social learning and conformation to social norms), cognitive social capital (social beliefs and values with three subcategories, namely religious beliefs, gender preference, and social stigma), and relational social capital (support and trust). The most critical factors affecting participants' childbearing behaviors were trust in their support systems and conformation to social norms.

The different dimensions of social capital can affect childbearing behaviors. Therefore, social capital should be considered when designing population and reproductive health policies.