Determination of Childbirth Readiness and Fear of Childbirth in Multiple Pregnancy and Related Factors: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The effects of multiple pregnancies on childbirth readiness (CR) and fear of childbirth (FC) have not been investigated in previous studies. Objectives: This study aims to determine the childbirth readiness and fear of childbirth in multiple pregnancies and factors affecting CR and FC. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from April to November 2022. The study data were collected using an online questionnaire created with Google Forms and the CR and FC sub-dimensions of the Prenatal Self-evaluation Questionnaire. Seventy-one women who filled out the data collection form were included in the study. Results: The mean CR score was 23.19 ± 6.35, and the mean FC score was 26.54 ± 5.68. A statistically significant relationship was found between the mean scores of readiness for delivery and the fear of childbirth scores of multiple pregnant women (r = 0.42, P < 0.001). Regarding the pregnant women's readiness for birth, a statistically significant relationship was found between education status, employment status, duration of the marriage, desire for pregnancy, family type, and the way in which they became pregnant (F (122.136) = 4.575, P < 0.001). Accordingly, there was a negative significant relationship between the independent variables, the duration of marriage and income, and the mean birth readiness score, while a positive significant relationship was found between a desire for pregnancy and the mean fear of childbirth (R2 = 0.043, P < 0.05). Conclusions: It was determined that the mean scores of readiness for childbirth and fear of birth in multiple pregnant women were moderate, and the most important effect for these variables was related to willingness for pregnancy.