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Infertility is a major life event that can induce severe psychological stress in couples, especially women. This protocol-based study aims to assess the effect of an abbreviated online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on the distress and quality of life (QoL) of infertile women undergoing assisted reproductive technology fertility treatments.

This study outlines a protocol for a randomized clinical trial involving 70 infertile women in Iran, who will be randomly divided into two groups of control (n=35) and intervention (n=35). To collect data, a sociodemographic/medical-fertility form, the general health questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), Newton’s fertility problem inventory, the infertility distress scale (IDS), and the QoL questionnaire for infertile women will be used. The online MBI will provided in groups of seven, once per week, for four weeks, each session for two hours. Data analysis will be performed in SPSS software, version 25.

The goal of this protocol-based study is to introduce a clinical trial that assess the effect of online MBI for reducing distress and thereby improving the QoL and mental health of infertile women in Iran. Given the prevalence of infertility and the importance of MBI, the results of the clinical trial can be highly beneficial.

Although fear and anxiety during pregnancy can be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, the existing studies show various results. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between fear and anxiety of COVID-19 and childbirth experiences.

This longitudinal study was conducted in six cities of Mazandaran province between June 2021 to February of the same year on 278 pregnant women using a multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected using the Fear of COVID-19 questionnaire, the Anxiety of COVID-19 questionnaire, and the Vijima Childbirth Experience questionnaire. Variables were described using descriptive indices and their analysis was done using a multiple linear regression model.

In this study, 135 participants (48.6%) had fear of COVID-19, and 126 (45.3%) had anxiety about COVID-19. Univariate analysis showed that the fear of COVID-19 had a significant relationship with the negative experience of childbirth (P-value<0.001), but the fear and anxiety of COVID-19 were not associated with neonatal outcomes. Multiple linear models show that the fear of COVID-19 has the greatest impact on the domain of lack of positive anticipation of childbirth experience (B=0.388).

Considering the fear and anxiety of COVID-19 are associated with a negative experience of childbirth, therefore, health policymakers should focus on appropriate solutions and interventions to reduce the fear and anxiety of this group of women in similar cases in the future.