Fear of childbirth among pregnant women during crises: the role of resilience and social support

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

ABSTRACT Background Fear of childbirth (FOC) can be significantly distressful for pregnant women, especially during a crisis. However, how FOC manifests during different types of crises has not been extensively investigated. This study aims to examine the contribution of women’s perinatal characteristics, resilience, social support from their family, partners, and friends, and concern for the foetus to their FOC, and to compare their FOC in two different crisis periods: the COVID-19 pandemic and the Israel-Hamas war. Methods Pregnant women were recruited through social media during two periods: One hundred and ninety-one women were recruited during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 173 during the Israel-Hamas war. The participants were 20–46 years old and completed self-report questionnaires. Results Being pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic, poorer physical health, at-risk pregnancy, and lower resilience were associated with higher FOC. Furthermore, women perceived greater support from their family and partner, higher concerns for their foetus, and higher FOC during COVID-19 than during wartime. Conclusions The results highlight the vulnerability of having at-risk factors such as worse physical health and at-risk pregnancy, as well as the essential role of resilience as a powerful resource in women’s FOC. They uncover that FOC is a context-dependent phenomenon and may be expressed to different extents under different circumstances. Professionals working with pregnant women should consider intervention programmes to develop psychological resilience to reduce the risk of severe FOC.