Childbirth Experience -Psychological, Cultural and Medical Associations

Abstract

This study was carried out in Beer Sheva, Israel on 200 Jewish women. The women were interviewed twice; several weeks before delivery at the ‘antenatal care’ clinic, and within 48 h of delivery.The questionnaire included socio-demographic information, past obstetric history, questions on previous births and expectations from the present birth. Anxiety was measured before and after delivery by the ‘State and Trait Anxiety Inventory’ compiled by Spielberger. The questionnaire used after delivery included obstetric data and questions concerning the woman's perception of the childbirth experience.The findings of this study indicated that higher anxiety state and trait before birth associated significantly to a negative childbirth experience. Some factors like lack of explanation on childbirth and multiparity were shown to be associated with higher anxiety states before labour, while other factors that were found to have an important effect on the perception of childbirth as a negative experience were: (1) pre...