Understanding Interpersonal Influences on the Use of Formal Health Services among a Population of Iranian Women in Reproductive Age: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: One of the most important factors contributing to using formal health care services by women is people who are involved in the social network around them. AIM: This study aimed to understand the interpersonal influences on the use of formal health services among Iranian women of reproductive age. METHODS: This study is a deductive content analysis approach based on the Health Promotion Model. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were done with women of reproductive age and health care staffs in Qom, Iran. Transcripts were analysed by a deductive content analysis approach based on the Health Promotion Model (HPM). RESULTS: Three main categories and eight subcategories were drawn consisting of (1) social support with 4 subcategories including “Family support and influence”, “support of religious people”, “support of health care providers” and “negative social support”; (2) social pressure and expectations with 2 subcategories including “feeling pressure due to role-playing” and “society’s expectations regarding women’s health”, and (3) healthy role models with 2 subcategories including “family role models” and “modeling friends and peers in taking action for treatment”. CONCLUSION: A positive interpersonal influence in women acts as a strong incentive to seek health care when they are suffering from a disease, and prevents the chronicity of the disease by timely treatment.