Masoumeh Simbar

• Professor
• Professor at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Introduction Scientific midwifery associations can play a leading role in improving maternal health policies and practices. This study aimed to evaluate the Iran Scientific Association of Midwifery (ISAM) using a translated valid version of the Member Association Capacity Assessment tool (MACAT) and also to explain the needs and propose the related...

Preterm delivery remains a significant determinant of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this retrospective cohort study, we investigated the relationship between air pollutants, temperature, and preterm neonatal mortality in Tehran from 2008 to 2019 using time series analysis. Air pollution monitoring data spanning a 10-year study peri...

Background: Gestational diabetes is the most common medical condition in pregnancy and can be a predisposing factor in incidence of type II diabetes in future. Incorrect lifestyles can predispose people to various diseases, including diabetes, which is a serious health risk. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare lifestyles of women with ge...

Apart from religious values, virginity is important in different communities because of its prominent role in reducing sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancies. Even though virginity testing has been proclaimed an example of violence against women by the World Health Organization, it is still conducted in many countries, including Iran. 1...

INTRODUCTION: There have been considerable changes in the concept and meaning of fatherhood in the past few decades and a lot of studies has down in this area, but there is no information about fathering and fatherhood from Iranian perspective, thus present study designed to explore the men's understanding of fathering and paternal role during thei...

INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE: Perinatal loss is one of the toughest events of life. Physiological milk secretion after perinatal loss adds to complicacy of the hardships of the event. The present study is aimed at exploring women’s experience with breast problems and milk leakage after perinatal loss.METHODS: The Study was carried out through explorative...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Women empowerment is one of millennium development goals which is effective on fertility, population’s stability and wellbeing. The influence of social determinants of health (SDH) on women empowerment is documented, however the correlation between SDH and women’s empowerment in fertility has not been figured out yet. This...

A family physician program has been implemented in rural areas of the country since the early 2005.Therefore, due to the increase in the density of midwives in this project, it is expected that more services would be provided to pregnant women. This cross-sectional study used the difference-in-differences model and Matchit statistical model to comp...

Objective Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of physical and psychological symptoms that start during the luteal phase. There are no specific effective and safe remedies to relieve these symptoms. However, there is a great tendency to use herbal medicines instead of chemical medicines. This study aimed to assess and compare the effects of...

Background So far, some training interventions have been carried out to improve the mental health in women with infertility, but designing the need and evidence-based, as well as multimedia mental health self-care interventions based on cyber space has received less attention. Due to the spread of the internet and the role of self-care in improving...

Lifetime physiological or pathological events, such as vaginal delivery and menopause, may change vaginal structure and appearance, owing to local tissue expansion and separation of the pelvic floor muscles, which can affect a woman’s sexual relationships. This systematic review was aimed at exploring the effect of vaginal tightening surgery on fem...

Background Psychosocial factors such as maternal stress in lactating women were shown to be related to an increased risk of infantile colic because the infants can be affected through breast milk. Therefore, domestic violence against lactating mothers can be effective on the infants’ health. It is also demonstrated that domestic violence against wo...

Aims and Objectives Since hysterectomy surgery is a major and invasive procedure, it can affect the quality of life of women in many ways. This study aimed to review and critique the psychometric properties of tools used to measure the quality of life of hysterectomized women. Method An advanced search was conducted in international (PubMed, Web o...

Background Depression and anxiety are common during menopause and may affect the quality of life (QoL) during menopause. Objective This study aims to assess the potential predictivity of depression and anxiety with quality of life (QoL) during the postmenopausal period. Methods This was a cross-sectional study on 285 postmenopausal women in Tehra...

Background The primary reasons for labiaplasty usually revolve around aesthetic, sexual, and functional concerns. Upon delving deeper into these issues, it becomes apparent that sexual partners play a controversial role in influencing women’s decisions to undergo surgery. Aim This study aimed to investigate the impact of sexual partners on women’s...

Background: Adolescence is considered as a momentous period for initiating risky behaviors. Adolescents do not have an accurate understanding of the perilous consequences of their behavior due to being self-centered. They are likely to discover risky situations, which increases their capacity for danger. The purpose of this systematic review study...

Background: Adolescence is considered as a momentous period for initiating risky behaviors. Adolescents do not have an accurate understanding of the perilous consequences of their behavior due to being self-centered. They are likely to discover risky situations, which increases their capacity for danger. The purpose of this systematic review study...

Background Women with medical problems during pregnancy, including women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), experience an increased prevalence of mental health disorders which can affect their quality of life. This study aimed to assess the relationship between GDM-related quality of life and depression, anxiety, and stress. Methods This an...

Background Infertility in men causes problems in various aspects of their lives, including personal, family and social life. One of the most important of these problems is anxiety. Anxiety in infertile men can affect their health, quality of life, and response to treatment, highlighting the significance of anxiety in these men. Thus, this systemati...

The Article Abstract is not available.

Background Men experiencing infertility encounter numerous problems at the individual, family, and social levels as well as quality of life (QOL). This study was designed to investigate the QOL of men experiencing infertility through a systematic review. Materials and methods This systematic review was conducted without any time limitation (Retrie...

Background Clarifying the dimensions and characteristics of obstetric telephone triage is important in improving the quality of services in the health system because researchers can evaluate the effectiveness of treatment, care and diagnostic measures in the form of obstetric telephone triage by developing a guideline. Therefore, this study aimed t...

Background: Psychological factors can affect sexual function. Symptoms of depression and anxiety may affect the sexual function of a woman after menopause. Objective: The study aimed to assess the correlation between depression and anxiety with the sexual function of postmenopausal women. Methods: This was a descriptive correlational study on 255...

Background: Sexual dysfunction is a common problem among women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) that may affect the women’s quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to assess the relationship between women’s sexual function and marital satisfaction with GDM-related quality of life and its dimensions. Method: This was a cross-sectional study...

Abstract Background & Aims: Infertility has psychological consequences. Although previous studies paid attention to the psychological effects and suggested many interventions for mental health promotion, the design of self-care interventions and the concept and dimensions of mental health self-care have received less attention. This study was cond...

Background The quality of life of infertile women is distinguished from that of men as these women face different problems at individual, social, psychological, and family levels. However, there is no tool for evaluating infertile women's quality of life. Objective This study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire to evaluate infertile wome...

Promoting self-care can be an effective way to decrease the rate of transmission and expansion of the infection. However, there seem to be different related factors to self-care by gender. This study aims to assess women’s self-care for COVID-19 prevention and some related factors in Tehran-Iran in 2021. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study...

Background Along with a global increase in the prevalence of infectious and non-communicable diseases, self-care with an emphasis on reproductive health Self-care has received special attention. Given the importance of women’s health, assessment of their self-care status using a valid and reliable tool seems to be necessary to determine the needs f...

Background Mounting evidence indicates that female genital aesthetic complaints impact sexual relationships. Aim The study sought to determine the strength of the correlation between genital self-image and sexual function. Methods Electronic databases were comprehensively searched including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, Embase, and th...

Development and validation of the code of ethics for midwives in Iran

Background Considering ethical issues in midwifery care is essential for improving the quality of health services and the client's satisfaction. This study aimed to develop and validate the code of ethics for Midwives in Iran (ICEM). Materials and methods This was a mixed sequential study that was performed in three phases including a qualitative...

Background Scientific developments have brought hope to infertile couples; however, the results are not always favorable. This makes women suffer psychological pressure. Therefore, previous studies have investigated the effectiveness of many psychological interventions but no research identified the most common psychological interventions. In this...

Background Feet edema in the third trimester is a common occurrence, and approximately 70% of pregnant women experience it. Physiologic edema in the feet can cause discomfort such as a feeling of heaviness, muscular cramps at night, a tingling sensation, pain and discomfort when walking, and fatigue in the feet, affecting 80% of pregnant women with...

Background This study aimed to evaluate the Iran Scientific Association of Midwifery (ISAM) using a translated valid version of the Member Association Capacity Assessment tool (MACAT), and also to explain the needs and the related strategies to improve ISAM capacities. Methods This was a mixed sequential explanatory study. The study was performed...

Background: We aimed to investigate the relationship between air pollution and the Infant mortality rate (IMR) during nearly ten years in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This study is a retrospective cohort case using time series analysis. Air pollution monitoring data during the study period (2009-2018) were collected from the information of 23 Air Qual...

Background: Performance of female genital cosmetic and reconstructive procedures (FGCRP) has been increasing over the past decades. Appearance and functional concerns are the most common reasons for seeking FGCRP. Poor body and genital self-image may contribute to the increase in demand for surgery. Objectives: The aim of this systematic review...

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) has physical, social, mental, and psychological consequences that can affect mothers' Quality of Life (QOL). This study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the QOL of mothers with GDM and its associated factors using a specific questionnaire. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was...

، ‫ ‫مقدمه:‬ ‫نقاط‬ ‫شناسایی‬ ‫جهت‬ ‫باروری‬ ‫سنین‬ ‫زنان‬ ‫جنسی‬ ‫خودمراقبتی‬ ‫وضعیت‬ ‫سنجش‬ ‫برای‬ ‫پایا‬ ‫و‬ ‫روا‬ ‫ابزاری‬ ‫طراحی‬ ‫برای‬ ‫ضرورتی‬ ‫باروری،‬ ‫سنین‬ ‫زنان‬ ‫جنسی‬ ‫سالمت‬ ‫وضعیت‬ ‫بهبود‬ ‫برای‬ ‫مقتضی،‬ ‫مداخالت‬ ‫طراحی‬ ‫و‬ ‫موجود‬ ‫ضعف‬ ‫و‬ ‫قوت‬ ‫جامعه‬ ‫می‬ ‫محسوب‬ ‫شود‬ ، ‫لذا‬ ‫روان‬ ‫و‬ ‫طراحی‬ ‫هدف‬ ‫با‬ ‫حاضر‬ ‫مطالعه‬ ‫...

Introduction With the increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and chronic health problems along with population growth, one of the definitions that is expanding is the ability to adapt and self-manage against diseases and self-care. Although there are several studies to examine self-care in medical conditions, there are not enough c...

Pregnant women are one of the endangered groups who need special attention in the COVID-19 epidemic. We conducted a systematic review and summarised the studies that reported adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19 infection. A literature search was performed in PubMed and Scopus up to 1 September 2022, for retrieving original ar...

Background: Women need special care during and after menopause. Due to the emphasis of the World Health Organization on promoting self-care in postmenopausal women, this study aims to analyze the situation and prioritize the self-care needs of postmenopausal women in the Tehran-Iran. Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical study on 486 postme...

Background: Infertility is a major challenge in the life of women which affects their quality of life. Infertile women's quality of life is a relatively new field of research that has recently been considered by health researchers. However, there has been no standard tool for measuring different aspects of infertile women's quality of life with fe...

Background: Infertility is a major challenge in the life of women which affects their quality of life. Infertile women's quality of life is a relatively new field of research that has recently been considered by health researchers. However, there has been no standard tool for measuring different aspects of infertile women's quality of life with fem...

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and psychometrically validate the Sexual Health Scale for Middle-Aged sexually active women (SHIMA). Methods: This study was a sequential exploratory study consisting of two phases. In phase one, we interviewed 19 middle-aged women and reviewed the existing instruments to generate an item pool. Then, a panel of...

Introduction With the increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and chronic health problems along with population growth, one of the definitions that is expanding is the ability to adapt and self-manage against diseases and self-care. Although there are several studies to examine self-care in medical conditions, there are not enough c...

The relationship between body image (BI) and quality of life (QoL) among postmenopausal women was assessed in this study. This correlational cross-sectional study was conducted on 320 postmenopausal women in Tehran-Iran. The subjects were selected using a multistage sampling method. Data was collected using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, the Fisher...

Background There are different approaches to improving sexual function among menopausal women including Kegel exercise and using lubricant gel. However, it is not clear which of these methods could be more effective. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of these two methods on sexual function in menopausal women. Methods The present rando...

Background: Males' viewpoint about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and their situation are essential components of men's and women's health in the community. Men have been overlooked in reproduction health, especially with reproductive issues such as contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), infertility, and sexual function. This...

Background: AIDS is one of the perilous infectious diseases and according to the WHO, the only effective way to prevent AIDS is through health education. Therefore, high-risk and vulnerable groups, including adolescents, should be prioritized in educational programs. Objectives: This systematic review study aims to investigate the effects of model-...

Objective: Herbal galactagogues are usually recommended to be sweetened with honey. Despite the high nutritious value of honey for lactating women and extensive studies on the effects of herbal galactagogues, no investigation was made to compare galactagogue effects of using herbal galactagogues with and without honey so far. The present study aim...

Background: This study aimed to develop and psychometrically validate the Sexual Health Instrument for Middle-Aged sexually active women (SHIMA). Methods: This study was a mixed exploratory study consisting of two phases. In phase one, we interviewed 19 middle-aged women and reviewed the existing instruments to generate an item pool. Then, a pan...

Objectives: This study investigates the therapeutic effect of vitamin C on the development of endometrial lesions and fecundity disorders in the ovarian induction model of mouse endometriosis. Methods: Ovarian endometriosis was surgically induced in 14 NMRI female mice (treatment group, N = 7) and (control group, N = 7). Three days after the sec...

Background Fathers’ involvement is crucial for promoting breastfeeding. There are a few studies on the effectiveness of fathers’ educational programs to promote exclusive breastfeeding. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a fathers’ educational program on their support for breastfeeding, mothers’ breastfeeding practice, and exclusive bre...

Background: Pregnant women have expectations from their providers; sometimes their expectations are somewhat different from the current situation. Objective: to assess of competencies of prenatal care providers according to the views of pregnant women in Iran. Method: This is a descriptive-analytical study. Sampling were 300 pregnant women. A resea...

Background and Aim Providing gender‐sensitive health services is emphasized by the World Health Organization. This study aimed to assess and prioritize the needs for the gender‐sensitive sexually transmitted infections/human immunodeficiency viruses (STIs/HIV) prevention services by a valid and reliable questionnaire. Methods This was an explorato...

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is one of the most prevalent problems in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) that can have a negative impact on their sexual quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of sexual health promotion package on SD and quality of sexual life in women with MS. This randomized clinical trial, was performed...

Introduction Pregnancy and childbirth are crucial events in women's lives that can be done well with the support of people around them, especially their husbands. However, a number of factors can reduce or increase the supportive role of spouses during this period. The aim of the present study was to explore the barriers and facilitators of Iranian...

Background: The selection of a competent prenatal care provider for women is of a major concern. The purpose of this research was to design a questionnaire for pregnant women’s decision-making regarding choosing a prenatal care provider and to assess its psychometric properties. Methods: This study used an exploratory mixed method. In the qualitati...

Purpose: Poor dietary habits among adolescents could cause serious health conditions in adulthood. Skill-based health education seems to be more effective than structured educational methods in increasing knowledge, changing attitudes, and improving dietary behavior among adolescents. This study aimed to assess the effects of a skills-based healthy...

PurposeTo evaluate the total, and direct effects of vitamin D, measured by circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, on GWG after adjustment for confounding variables, and then assess the indirect effects by demonstrating the role of gestational age at birth as a mediator in this association. Methods Data collected in “Khuzestan Vitamin D D...

Background & aim: Service providers should frequently assess the clients' satisfaction and use tools with high level of reliability and validity to meet clients' needs. This study was performed to evaluate psychometric properties of a tool to assess the clients' satisfaction with obstetrics triage. Methods: This validation study was conducted by th...

Background Postmenopause physiological changes may alter body image (BI) during the postmenopausal period of life. Body image dissatisfaction may have negative effects on the sexual function of women. The present study aims to assess the relationship between body image and sexual function during the postmenopausal period. Methods This cross-sectio...

Background: Postmenopausal women are at increased risk of depression and anxiety. Physiologic changes in menopause could change body’s appearance and function that may disturb body and then lead to depression and anxiety. This study aims to investigate the relationship between body image with anxiety and depression among postmenopausal women. Meth...

Background: Body image is the main element of an individual's personality that may be influenced by many factors during menopause. We aimed to investigate the correlation between postmenopausal women's body image and the severity of menopausal symptoms. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on 300 postmenopausal women, aged 45 to 65 years old,...

Physical disability is one of the factors influencing the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of people. Women with a severe disability receive fewer Pap smear tests, regular mammography examinations, and sex education. This study was carried out to identify the SRH needs of women with spinal cord injuries (SCI) in Tehran (Iran) in 2019. This desc...

Abstract Background Body image is the main element of an individual’s personality that may be influenced by many factors during menopause. We aimed to assess the relationship between postmenopausal women’s body image with the severity of menopausal symptoms. Methods This was a cross-sectional study on 300 postmenopausal women, aged 45 to 65 years o...

Introduction: Skills-based health education is useful in the promotion of health behaviors. Preparing for puberty is essential for adolescents. This study aimed to assess the effects of a skills-based education on girls' knowledge, attitudes, and practice about health in puberty. Methods: This was an experimental study on 80 female school students...

Background: The family, as the smallest and the most influential unit of society, plays a pivotal role in the development of personal, social, and human values. Objectives: The current study aimed at developing and psychometrically evaluating the successful marriage factors questionnaire in youth. Methods: The current methodological study was des...

Introduction: Pregnancy is associated with changes in sexual function and perhaps many more sexual problems when accompanied by particular disorders such as gestational diabetes. Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate factors associated with sexual functions in women with gestational diabetes. Materials and Methods: The present a...

Background Infertile women’s mental health problems, including depression, are key fertility health issues that affect infertile women more severely than infertile men. Depression may threaten the health of individuals and reduce the quality of their lives. Considering the role and impact of depression on responses to infertility treatments, a syst...

Background The World Health Organization defines domestic violence against women as a major health problem. Domestic violence is a consequence of a lack of power, empowerment, and gender equality in societies. In recent years, researchers have proposed various interventional approaches involving empowerment to reduce domestic violence against women...

Objectives: This review inspects the usage of animal models and the practical solutions of this method for different challenges of endometriosis. The objectives of the study are to determine and compare the histopathology, biomarkers, and development of endometrial lesions in murine homologous and heterologous endometriosis models. Methods: The lit...

Introduction: The increasing global rates of adolescent morbidity and mortality highlights problems such as suicide during puberty. Adolescent suicide prevention along with adolescent health in general comprise a priority on the global agenda. Since suicide is associated with several behavioral symptoms, the present study seeks to present a narrati...

Sexual life of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex and challenging process that is often impaired under the influence of the disease and its neurological, physical and psychosocial complications. Nevertheless, this issue is often neglected. The present study was conducted in Iran to explain sexual life in women with MS and the percep...

Background: Women in perimenopausal and postmenopausal period are at increased risk of depression and anxiety. Physiologic changes in menopause can change body's appearance and function that may disturb body and then lead to anxiety and depression. This study aims to assess the relationship between body image with anxiety and depression among post...

Aim: To assess needs for a gender sensitive perimarital counseling services in Iran. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: This was a study on all 236 premarital counseling providers in 37 health centers in Shiraz-Iran. The tools for data collection included: 1) a demographic information questionnaire and; 2) a valid and reliable N...

Background: men’s participation is crucial for promoting of breastfeeding. There are a few studies on the effectiveness of father’s education on the nursery performance. Therefore, this study aims to assess the mothers’ performance following father’s education on breastfeeding. Method: This randomized clinical trial was performed on 76 fathers in t...

Objectives: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. In addition, it is the most mentally powerful cancer in women due to affecting the most important female sexual part. Patients with breast cancer experience problems in their marital relationship because of their disrupted mental image and sexual relations. In this regard, this study...

Objective: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the decisions of infertile couples regarding disclosure to future child. Materials and methods: This qualitative study was conducted with content analysis approach in 2012 in Milad Infertility Center at Mashhad, Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 32 infer...

Background & aim Several studies consider vitamin D deficiency as a modifiable risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, there is no specific cut-off point for the serum level of this prohormone to identify high-risk pregnant women. This study aimed to determine the thresholds for the circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D),...

Aim The current work investigated the issues that cause apprehension in infertile women, the effects of this disquiet on their quality of life and the strategies that they adopt in dealing with their concerns. Design The qualitative research. Method This qualitative research sampled participants from a training centre in Mazandaran University of...

Background: Infertility is one of the most important issues that negatively influences women's quality of life, especially when the cause is associated with females. Given that no instruments have been designed to assess quality of life among infertile women with focus on female factors, this study was conducted to develop and evaluate the psychom...

Background: Obstetrics triage is one of the major concerns of hospitals and health care providers. Satisfaction with the services received is a consequence and an important indicator in the assessment of service quality. However, service providers should frequently assess client satisfaction and use high reliability and validation tools to meet cli...

Background: Prenatal care providers play an important role during pregnancy. Because healthcare providers provide comprehensive support to pregnant women, they must pay attention to pregnant women's expectations and efforts to meet their expectations. Understanding of pregnant women's expectations is associated with continuation of care and improv...