Abstract
Background: This study examined the effectiveness of a birth preparation course on coping with childbirth among primigravid ultra-orthodox Jewish women in Israel. Methods: In total, 130 ultra-orthodox 25–35-week primigravid women were divided into a study (n = 100, participated in birth preparation courses) and a control (n = 30, did not participate in the courses) group. A questionnaire was delivered three times: T1—before the course/delivery, T2—two–three days after delivery, and T3—a month after delivery. Results: At T3, self-efficacy among the study group was higher than in the control group. Differences in self-efficacy were found over time regardless of the group (F(2,246) = 12.83, p < 0.001), as a time–group interaction effect (F(2,246) = 10.20, p < 0.01). Self-efficacy in the study group (Mean, M = 3.40, Standard deviation, SD = 0.63 at T1) dropped to M = 3.06, SD = 0.76 at T2 and rose to M = 3.34, SD = 0.64 at T3. In the control group, self-efficacy (M = 3.53, SD = 0.56 at T1) dropped to M = 3.26, SD = 0.63 at T2 and to M = 2.95, SD = 0.76 at T3. Discussion: The childbirth preparation course was found to be effective in raising self-efficacy among primigravid ultra-orthodox religious women when compared to the control group.
Highlights
Fear of childbirth has been found to be directly related to fear of pain, lowering mother’s confidence in her natural ability to give birth and leading to the use of painkillers and instrumental births [1]
The childbirth preparation course was found to be effective in raising self-efficacy among primigravid ultra-orthodox religious women when compared to the control group
The respondents answered the first questionnaire at a mean age of 33 weeks of gestation (SD = 4.4) and gave birth at week 39.6 (SD = 1.3); most had a natural birth (79.1%), 8.5% had a caesarean section, and 12.3% had an instrumental birth
Summary
Fear of childbirth has been found to be directly related to fear of pain, lowering mother’s confidence in her natural ability to give birth and leading to the use of painkillers and instrumental births [1]. “Tocophobia” refers to anxiety about childbirth and seeking to give birth by caesarean section even though there is no medical reason for it [2]. While most women are afraid of labor pain, they come to terms with it. They seek to give birth in a supportive, pleasant, respectful environment with staff that knows how to respond . They need reinforcement in their self-efficacy to give birth naturally, as their mothers and grandmothers did [3]. Natural childbirth has physiological and psychological benefits for women and their families and for health care cost reduction [1]
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