Health Education and Health Promotion

en Health Provider Perspectives on Barriers to Prenatal Class Attendance in Iran پژوهش کیفی Qualitative Study Aims: The World Health Organization emphasizes that preparation for childbirth is a key component of antenatal care that reduces maternal mortality and improves birth experiences. Understanding barriers to participation requires resource-based interventions and qualitative inquiry. This study explored health providers’ perspectives on barriers to prenatal class attendance in Iran. Participants & Methods: This qualitative study included 36 participants who were purposively selected from among class instructors and key informants across 30 health centers from May 2024 to March 2025. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews using an interview guide. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis, following Graneheim and Lundman, with attention to the trustworthiness of the findings. Findings: After data saturation, the analysis yielded 452 codes, which were organized into 94 sub-sub-themes, 10 sub-themes, 4 themes, and 1 main theme. The main theme, “Navigating a Whirlwind of Challenges,” emerged from four themes: Lack of Accessibility, Lack of Acceptability, Negative Feedback, and Lack of Rethinking to Start Over. Conclusion: Overcoming barriers to prenatal class attendance requires an accessible, evidence-based, and integrated childbirth education program supported by policy, adequate funding, manageable workloads, and ongoing evaluation to empower pregnant women and improve maternal and neonatal health.   Iran , Qualitative Research , Prenatal Care, Health Providers 367 375 http://hehp.daneshafarand.org/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-154&slc_lang=en&sid=4 S. Abdollahpour 1003194753284600388082 1003194753284600388082 Yes Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran T. Khadivzadeh 1003194753284600388083 1003194753284600388083 No Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran M. Shafeei 1003194753284600388084 1003194753284600388084 No Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran F. Fargahi 1003194753284600388085 1003194753284600388085 No Health Deputy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran R. Taheri Hassanabad 1003194753284600388086 1003194753284600388086 No Health Deputy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran O. Mohsenpour 1003194753284600388087 1003194753284600388087 No Health Deputy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran