سامانه همایش های دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد نجف آباد

صفحه اصلی / اولین همایش بین المللی تحول خدمات سلامت: تلفیق مراقبت، درمان، بازتوانی و امیدبخشی

The Relationship of Spiritual Health and Professional Ethics with Reproductive Health: A Systematic Review

نویسندگان :

Zahra Masaeli¹ Shahrbanoo Salehin²

1- دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شاهرود 2- دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شاهرود

کلمات کلیدی :

Reproductive health،spiritual health،professional ethics،holistic care،health services،moral distress

چکیده :

Background: In holistic care, human beings possess a spiritual dimension-in addition to the biopsychosocial dimensions-that fosters well-being and resilience while giving meaning to life. Professional ethics defines the legal duties and internal commitments of healthcare personnel regarding the safeguarding of human dignity, autonomy, and justice. Reproductive health services are intertwined with the existential, cultural, religious, and identity-related dimensions of human beings. Decision-making in this field can sometimes place individuals in situations of moral dilemmas and moral distress. The interplay of these three concepts has gained significant importance in health promotion, particularly within the realm of reproductive health. The aim of this review study is to examine the impact of professional ethics and spiritual health on the quality of reproductive health care and the performance of healthcare personnel in this field. Method: This review study was conducted through a comprehensive search of reputable international databases-including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect-as well as the Google Scholar search engine, covering the period from 2020 to 2026. Guided by MeSH terminology, selected keywords were applied, including Reproductive Health, Maternal Health, Spiritual Well-being/Spiritual Care, Professional Ethics, Bioethics, Moral Resilience, Spiritual Care Competence, Moral Distress, and Holistic Care. Findings: Out of 1,523 articles, and following the removal of duplicates and title screening, 28 studies were identified as eligible, relevant, and aligned with the research objectives. A synthesis of the literature reveals an interactive and synergistic relationship between spiritual well-being and professional ethics in the context of promoting health and reproductive well-being. This relationship encompasses three main axes: . 1. Healthcare personnel with higher levels of spiritual well-being demonstrate a superior ability to derive meaning and adapt ethically when facing complex clinical challenges and decisions regarding reproductive health (such as abortion, fetal screening, and infertility treatments); they also exhibit greater resilience and lower rates of burnout and moral distress. 2. Spiritual well-being fosters moral virtues-such as compassion, empathy, loyalty, and an internal commitment to professional oaths-that transcend mere adherence to organizational regulations. 3. Adherence to spiritual-ethical principles involves respecting patient autonomy-without imposing personal beliefs or preconceptions-and safeguarding the sanctity of their personal convictions. Conclusion: Restricting ethics to legal and regulatory frameworks while excluding spirituality diminishes the effectiveness of care. Spiritual health strengthens professional ethics in reproductive health and clinical care, enabling providers to deliver care grounded in human dignity, compassion, and virtue ethics when facing complex ethical dilemmas. Integrating topics related to ethically grounded spiritual care into medical and reproductive health education curricula is essential, as it promotes the well-being of both patients and healthcare professionals.