Background: Female-headed households are one of the most vulnerable groups of society that confront many problems and challenges. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the challenges and opportunities confronting female-headed households in Iran. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted among female-headed households in Kermanshah, West of Iran, in 2019. The data were collected through Semi-structured interviews with 26 female-headed households who were selected by purposeful and theoretical sampling. Data analysis was done through conventional qualitative content analysis, and the software MAXQDA-12 was used for the management of data. The four criteria of Goba and Lincon, including credibility, confirmability, dependability, and transferability, were observed to evaluate the quality of research results. Results: After analyzing the data, 4 main categories and 13 subcategories were obtained as follows: individual problems (role overload, role conflict, end of love, psychological problems), intra-family problems (declined independence, intra-family tension, poverty reproduction and family disability), social problems (stigma of being unattended, social insecurity, social isolation, social exclusion), positive outcomes (positive self-concept, social maturity). Conclusion: Female-headed households face many challenges that can become a big threat or an opportunity. Therefore, their health improvement can be achieved through training and helping them to adapt to new and multifaceted roles, providing more economic support and helping them raise their social status.

Background: Housewives have several problems during the quarantine phase; so, the current study was designed to describe the challenges faced by Iranian housewives during the quarantine period in relation to COVID-19 and compatibility measures for it. Methods: The current research employed a qualitative methodology and a traditional content analysis method on 34 quarantined women in Tehran. Purposive sampling and snowballing were used to find participants, and semi-structured interviews were used to gather data. The Guba and Lincoln criteria were also employed to assess the quality of the study findings. Results: After analyzing the data, 4 main categories and 18 subcategories were extracted, including (1) individual problems (personal health problems, life with fear and anxiety, low mental health, lifestyle imbalance, Internet addiction); (2) family problems (violence and conflict in the family, tension in managing family members, disruption of the educational and economic situation of family members, intensification of domestic tasks and roles); (3) social problems (social isolation, disregard for social customs, restricted access to cyberspace); and (4) compatibility strategies (spirituality, strengthening family relationships, division of tasks between family members, optimal use of leisure, positive use of cyberspace, development of individual skills). Conclusion: Their problems can be ameliorated by providing contraception to housewives, improving their mental health and reducing their worries and fears, modeling a healthy lifestyle during quarantine, offering solutions that reduce violent behavior and manage family conflict, and expanding their access to virtual communications.

Background Nurses, as the primary human resource in the fight against COVID-19, encounter several obstacles and concerns. As a result, the current study used a qualitative method to describe the problems and adaptation techniques of nurses caring for COVID-19 patients. Methods The current study used a qualitative conventional content analysis technique with 30 nurses working in COVID-19 wards in Tehran hospitals. Purposive sampling, snowball sampling, and semi-structured interviews were used to get access to participants and gather data. The data was examined using conventional qualitative content analysis and the MAXQDA-18 program. To assess the quality of study findings, Guba and Lincoln’s trustworthiness criteria were fulfilled. Results The data analysis revealed two main categories and sixteen subcategories: (1) experiences and challenges (lack of protective equipment, high work pressure, marginalized physical health, problems related to the use of protective equipment, being excluded, a lack of a supportive work environment, problems related to patients, psychological problems, fear, marginalized personal and family life, and the challenge of communicating with patients’ families); and (2) adaptation strategies for work conditions (performing religious-spiritual activities, creating an empathetic atmosphere in the workplace, spiritualizing their work, trying to convince the family and gaining their support, and strengthening their sense of self-worth and responsibility). Conclusion Nurses’ working conditions can be improved by providing adequate protective equipment, a suitable work environment, and more social and financial support; paying more attention to nurses’ physical and mental health; and considering appropriate communication mechanisms for nurses to communicate with their families and patients’ families.

Background: Nurses as the main human resource in coping with COVID-19 face many challenges and problems. Therefore, the present study aimed to explain the experiences, challenges, and adaptation strategies of nurses in taking care of patients with COVID-19 with a qualitative approach.Methods: The present study was conducted with a qualitative conventional content analysis approach among 30 nurses working in wards for COVID-19 patients, in Tehran hospitals. Access to participants and data collection was done through purposive sampling, snowball sampling and semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis (conventional) and MAXQDA-18 software. Guba and Lincoln criteria were observed to evaluate the quality of research results.Results: From data analysis, 2 main categories and 16 subcategories were obtained, including (1) experiences and challenges (lack of protective equipment, high work pressure, marginalized physical health, problems related to the use of protective equipment, getting excluded, lack of supportive work environment, problems related to patients, psychological problems, fear, marginalized personal and family life and the challenge of communication with patients' families) (2) Strategies for adapting to working conditions (performing religious-spiritual activities, creating an empathetic atmosphere in the workplace, spiritualizing their work , trying to convince the family and gain their support, strengthening sense of self-worth and responsibility).Conclusion: The working conditions for nurses can be improved through providing adequate protective equipment, providing a suitable work environment and more social and financial support, more attention to the physical and mental health of nurses and considering appropriate mechanisms for nurses to communicate with their families and patients' families.

Background: There are many barriers for condom use, which was one of the most important methods to prevent the transmission of HIV among female sex workers. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify the barriers to condom use among female sex workers in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This study was conducted with a qualitative approach and conventional content analysis among female sex workers in Tehran. Twenty-two female sex workers were selected through snowball sampling and purposive sampling. The data gathering method was a semi-structured interview and the data were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman method. Guba and Lincoln criteria were used for evaluating research transferability. Results: The results of data analysis were categorized in three categories and seven sub-categories included 1) individual factors (not knowing HIV/AIDS properly, antiloyalty and love, and personality traits), 2) structural factors (partner's desire, problems with condom availability), and 3) cultural factors (cultural taboos, following the models). Conclusion: The results showed that lack of condom use is the consequence of different individual, structural, and cultural factors. So, it can be useful to take some initiatives at the individual level by raising awareness and understanding of female sex workers about HIV at the structural level by lowering the price of condoms and providing them extensively and at the societal level, by changing the beliefs and taboos about condoms.