This study aims to determine the effectiveness of home-based low-intensity stretching and breathing exercises on the reduction of 1 and 2 month post-partum depression (primary outcome) and fatigue (secondary outcome) scores. In this randomized controlled trial, 127 women at 26-32 weeks' gestation with Edinburgh score less than 15, who attended 14 selected health centres in Tabriz, Iran, were randomly allocated into one of the following three groups: no intervention group, group receiving training for exercise during pregnancy, and group receiving training for exercise during pregnancy and post-partum period until 2 months after delivery. Depression and fatigue scores were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Fatigue Identification Form, respectively, at baseline, 1 month and 2 months after delivery. The data were analysed with SPSS-ver. 13.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) using chi-square, Fisher's exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Mean rank of the difference scores of depression and fatigue were not significantly different among the groups, both at 1 and 2 months post-partum (P > 0.05). Therefore, this study did not provide evidence to show that training women to do the home-based exercises during pregnancy or during pregnancy and post-partum period have a preventive effect on post-partum depression and fatigue. However, more studies are needed for making precise judgment.

Background:Fear of the stigma associated with reproductive health services has always been one of the reasons why youth and unmarried individuals avoid making use of such services. This stigma imposes a great deal of mental stress, fear, and depression on patients and causes delays in the diagnosis and treatment of their conditions.Objectives:This paper explores the concept of stigma in the context of the utilization of reproductive health services by unmarried women.Patients and Methods:This study is qualitative in nature. Purposive sampling was employed, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 unmarried women, five midwives, and two physicians. The data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method.Results:Four main categories constituted the general concept concerning the stigma suffered by unmarried women for using reproductive health services, i.e., prevalent stereotypical thinking patterns in society, the fear of being judged and labeled by others, discrimination, and feeling ashamed of seeking reproductive health services.Conclusions:The findings indicated that society associates reproductive health issues with sexual relations, which in turn shapes the stigma and places limitations on unmarried women for using reproductive health services. Thus, while reproductive health services are planned and provided to unmarried women, strategies are demanded for overcoming this stigma.

This qualitative study in the Islamic Republic of Iran aimed to explore facilitators and barriers to the use of reproductive health services by unmarried women. A purposive sample of unmarried women aged 25-60 years in Isfahan city were interviewed about their experiences of reproductive health services in public health centres. Content analysis of responses revealed that the favourable characteristics of reproductive health services in public centres were services that: were delivered by personnel of the same sex in a woman-friendly environment and available at a suitable price, and did not label clients. In contrast, the following characteristics made public health centres undesirable for unmarried women: not addressing single women for reproductive health services; lack of privacy; failure to maintain confidentiality; doubts about skills and scientific ability of personnel; and lack of integration of services. ‫غــر‬ ‫النســاء‬ ‫نظــر‬ ‫وجهــة‬

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fish oil supplementation on antenatal and postpartum depression score. Methods:This was a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial. We enrolled 150 eligible pregnant women with Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) score of less than 20, aged 18 to 35 from Feburary 2014 to April 2015 in Tabriz, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 1000 mg of fish oil supplements or placebo from 16 -20 weeks of gestation to one month after giving birth. Participants completed the EPDS at baseline, 26 -30 weeks, 35 -37 weeks, and 30 -45 days after birth. Primary outcome measures were the mean depression score at 26 -30 weeks, 35-37 weeks, and postpartum period. The statistical analysis was intent-to-treat. Results:A total of 150 females were included, and no one was lost to follow up. There were significant differences between the two groups in the mean score of depression only at 35 -37 (adjusted mean difference = -1.4; [95% CI -2.6 to -0.25]). The mean score of depression during pregnancy and postpartum period significantly decreased within the fish oil group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the baseline docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaneoic acid (EPA) serum levels. Conclusions:Fish oil supplements significantly decreased the mean score of EPDS at weeks 35 to 37. It seems that females may benefit from daily fish oil supplements during pregnancy especially in countries with low intake of fish yet further studies are needed to confirm these results.

Background: Iranian single women are deprived of reproductive healthcare services, though the provision of such services to the public has increased. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Iranian single women on their access to reproductive health services. Methods: A qualitative design using a conventional content analysis method was used. Semi-structured interviews were held with 17 single women and nine health providers chosen using the purposive sampling method. Results: Data analysis resulted in the development of three categories: ‘family’s attitudes and performance about single women’s reproductive healthcare,’ ‘socio-cultural factors influencing reproductive healthcare,’ and ‘cultural factors influencing being a single woman.’ Conclusion: Cultural and contextual factors affect being a single woman in every society. Therefore, healthcare providers need to identify such factors during the designing of strategies for improving the facilitation of access to reproductive healthcare services.