Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research1735-90662012015030111320EN20150301<p><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p> <p><strong>Background:</strong> Midwifery cares take place in diverse communities with different ethnics groups. Therefore, midwifery cares could be planned wisely and principally based on women&rsquo;s and their families&rsquo; changeable demands which focus on social and cultural issues. This qualitative study explored the midwives&rsquo; experiences of care in the community.</p> <p><strong>Materials and Methods:</strong> This qualitative study was conducted by descriptive phenomenological approach. The subjects, selected by purposive sampling, comprised 13 midwives employed in Isfahan, Iran. Semi-structured interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, and simultaneously analyzed through Colaizzi&rsquo;s method.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> With descriptive analysis of participants&rsquo; experiences, three main themes were explored (personal characteristics of the community midwife, social determinants of women&rsquo;s health, and achieving community-based midwifery skills).</p> <p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Knowledge of women&rsquo;s social status, gender inequality in health, and existence of social health risk factors for women in their community helps midwives to provide reproductive health care based on clients&rsquo; needs and demands. Therefore, midwives should enhance the quality of their care through integrating professional skills with a full understanding of the social context.</p> <p><strong>Key words:</strong> Iran, midwifery, phenomenology, qualitative method, socialization</p>http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/view/1132http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/download/1132/840