BackgroundA negative experience in childbirth is associated with chronic maternal morbidities. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to identify currently available successful interventions to create a positive perception of childbirth experience which can prevent psychological birth trauma.MethodsRandomized controlled trials of interventions in pregnancy or labour which aimed to improve childbirth experience versus usual care were identified from 1994 to September 2016. Low risk pregnant or childbearing women were chosen as the study population. PEDRO scale and Cochrane risk of bias tool were used for quality assessment. Pooled effect estimates were calculated when more than two studies had similar intervention. If it was not possible to include a study in the meta-analysis, its data were summarized narratively.ResultsAfter screening of 7832 titles/abstracts, 20 trials including 22,800 participants from 12 countries were included. Successful strategies to create a positive perception of childbirth experience were supporting women during birth (Risk Ratio = 1.35, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.07 to 1.71), intrapartum care with minimal intervention (Risk Ratio = 1.29, 95% Confidence Interval:1.15 to 1.45) and birth preparedness and readiness for complications (Mean Difference = 3.27, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.66 to 5.88). Most of the relaxation and pain relief strategies were not successful to create a positive birth experience (Mean Difference = − 2.64, 95% Confidence Intervention: − 6.80 to 1.52).ConclusionThe most effective strategies to create a positive birth experience are supporting women during birth, intrapartum care with minimal intervention and birth preparedness. This study might be helpful in clinical approaches and designing future studies about prevention of the negative and traumatic birth experiences.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12978-018-0511-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background and purpose of the study: Undoubtedly, without sexual and reproductive health, women will not be able to achieve their other rights. This goal will be achieved only when they are supported by men. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of providing information required to design a model for promoting the men`s participation in sexual and reproductive health using structural equation modeling-partial least squares. Methodology: This research was a descriptive-analytical study conducted on 150 married men who were randomly included in the study. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire designed based on the results of a qualitative study and a review of articles. Its validity and reliability have been already examined. Data were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed by structural equation modeling. Results: The results of this study revealed that all strategies for the promotion of men`s participation, except for the solution of "maximum use of religious capacities", had a normal distribution, and according to the positive values of the CV-Redundancy Index and the CV-Communality Index, the structural model had a good and appropriate fit for all variables. Conclusion: According to the results, the high-level decision-makers can be informed to decide where and how to focus their efforts and resources so that they can maximize the participation of men in sexual and reproductive health.

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