Experiences of emergency medical services personnel about barriers and facilitators in prehospital childbirth missions in Iran: a qualitative study

Objective: In Iran, the majority of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel are male; hence, one of their distinct and crucial missions is the prehospital childbirth mission, which might be significantly challenging for both personnel and patients. To obtain in-depth and authentic data, the present study was conducted to elucidate the barriers and facilitators of prehospital childbirth missions based on the experiences of EMS personnel.  Methods: A qualitative study employing conventional content analysis was conducted in 2023. Participants were selected through purposive sampling from EMS personnel willing to participate in the study and who have experiences with missions leading to childbirth. Data saturation was reached through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 14 participants. Data accuracy and credibility were confirmed using the Lincoln Guba criteria.  Results: The results included two main themes including barriers and facilitators. Barriers were categorized into gender-related barriers and personnel barriers. While appropriate communication and efforts to preserve privacy were the primary facilitator themes.  Conclusion: The findings revealed that EMS personnel face considerable barriers in the process of these missions. Therefore, for optimal performance quality in this prominent mission, it is recommended that clinical and educational policymakers consider actively recruiting female personnel, focusing on enhancing communication and practical skills and securing the patient s privacy. These approaches can result in childbirth missions with lower stress levels for patients, families, and personnel who provide the service.