Fear of childbirth among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Arba Minch town, southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Tiruset Gelaw,Mekdes Kondale Gurara,Gebresilasea Gendisha Ukke,Teklemariam Gultie Ketema,Kassaw Beyene

doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03367-z

Tiruset Gelaw, Mekdes Kondale Gurara + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03367-z

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Abstract

BackgroundFear of childbirth is one of the life challenges the women encounter during pregnancy. It is an important source of distress for the women and their families and also increases the odds of obstetric complications during childbirth. The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of fear of childbirth and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public health facilities in Arba Minch town, southern Ethiopia.MethodsInstitution-based cross-sectional study was carried out among pregnant women who attended antenatal care at public health facilities in Arba Minch from November 1st − 30th 2019. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to include the participants. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview by using a structured and pretested questionnaire. Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire was used to score fear of childbirth. Epi Data version 3.1 and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25.0 software were used for data management. Descriptive and analytic analyses were done and statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05 and 95% confidence level in multivariable analysis.ResultsA total of 387 pregnant women have participated in this study. Forty (10.3%) of the pregnant women had a low degree fear, 154(39.8%) had a moderate degree fear, 98(25.3%) had a high degree fear, and 95(24.5%) had severe degree fear of childbirth. Unplanned pregnancy (AOR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.12, 4.74), current pregnancy-related complications (AOR = 6.24, 95% CI: 2.72, 14.29), and poor social support (AOR = 1.93, 95%CI: 1.01, 3.68) were factors significantly associated with severe degree fear of childbirth.ConclusionsAlmost three-fourth of the pregnant women in this study area had moderate to severe degree fear of childbirth. Tailoring counseling during antenatal care visits is needed to address those women who are at a high risk of considerable childbirth fear and its health consequences.

Highlights

Fear of childbirth is one of the life challenges the women encounter during pregnancy
History of abuse and social support status Twenty-three (5.9%) of the participants reported that they had a history of abuse in their lifetime and 191(49.3%) had a husband’s support during the current pregnancy
This finding showed a high magnitude of fear of childbirth in pregnant women in this study area

Summary

Introduction

Fear of childbirth is one of the life challenges the women encounter during pregnancy It is an important source of distress for the women and their families and increases the odds of obstetric complications during childbirth. Fear of childbirth (FOC) is one of the problems the women encounter during pregnancy and can be a source of distress for the women, their family, and their caregivers [3,4,5]. Fear of childbirth is described as feelings of uncertainty and anxiousness before, during, or after delivery by thinking the future labor and delivery or experiences of others’ fearful responses to childbirth and labor pain [6, 7] It is one of the common problems affecting women’s health and wellbeing in their perinatal life [6]. Studies in Africa showed a high prevalence of FOC ranging from 20–61.2% [11,12,13]

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