Development of a Reproductive Health Promotion Program for Women with Heart Disease: Joint Reproductive Health and Heart Disease Clinic

Abstract

Background and aim: The reciprocal interactions of reproductive processes and heart disease can lead to health complications in women. It is the duty of the health team to promote their reproductive health. The aim of this study was to develop a program to promote the reproductive health of women with heart disease. Materials and Methods: In this Sequential exploratory mixed method study (July 2020-July 2021, Isfahan), after a qualitative study and literature review, a reproductive health promotion program for women with heart disease was designed and validated in three Delphi rounds by 18 specialists and Health managers (targeted selection). We reported the results of the Delphi rounds in this study. The research environment was hospitals and faculties of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and the study tools were checklists of demographic characteristics, strategies and program content. After analyzing the opinions, the structure of the joint reproductive health and heart disease clinic was developed. Results: Based on the findings of this study, the reproductive health promotion program for women with heart disease was presented in the structure of a joint reproductive health and heart disease clinic. In this clinic, the dimensions of reproductive health services (pre-and during-marriage counseling, pre-pregnancy care, etc.) are provided by a team of cardiologists, obstetricians in the form of a combination of health and treatment services. Conclusion: This joint reproductive health and heart disease clinic was presented comprehensively in all aspects of reproductive health with the view of integrating health and treatment services as well as combining heart and reproductive services. The implementation of this program can be one step towards ensuring the reproductive health of these women. © 2024, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.