BELIEFS, ATTITUDES AND COPING BEHAVIORS OF MOTHERS WITH GESTATIONAL DIABETES: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Diabetes is the most prevalent disease during pregnancy. Self-care and prevention
of diabetes type II in future are the key factors in patients’ education. Cultural and religious beliefs are
of the effective key factors on self-care by diabetics. Gestational diabetes is one of the main health issues
in Iran. Therefore, the present study is aimed at elaborating on the beliefs, and coping strategies of the
mothers with gestational diabetes .
Materials & Methods: The study was carried out as a qualitative-content analysis method. Face to face
semi-structured deep interviews were performed for data gathering. Participants were pregnant women
diagnosed with gestational diabetes in 24th-36th week of pregnancy who referred to the clinics affiliated
with Shahid Beheshti Medical Science University. Data saturation was achieved with 12 interviews and
the collected data was analyzed using conventional content analysis method .
Results: conventional content analysis highlighted two themes; Attitude toward the disease and Coping
strategies. The former was featured with 2 categories: religious beliefs and medical beliefs. The latter
was featured with three layers: compatibility, spirituality, and incompatibility.
Conclusion: calrifyng beliefs and coping behaviors of mothers with gestational diabetes leads to better
and proper education planning and programming toward improvement of health, self-care, and
prevention of diabetes