The effects of women's knowledge about painless childbirth on their fear of childbirth and delivery way

Abstract

Objective We aimed to study the effects of women's knowledge about painless childbirth on their fear of childbirth (FOC) and delivery way, so as to provide reference for antenatal education. Methods the pregnant women came to our hospital for childbirth were selected as study objects.Their obstetric characteristics, the FOC, knowledge about painless childbirth, and delivery way were investigated by W-DEQ questionnaire and our designed questionnaire, and then according to their information, these subjects were divided into different groups and were compared. Results The mean W-DEQ score of the cognitive group was (65.76±10.53)points, which was higher than (72.45±9.28)points of the non-cognitive group ( t=8.7, P<0.05). The number of pregnant women with FOC in the cognitive group was 54cases(13.27%), while the number of pregnant women with FOC in the non-cognitive group was 59 cases (20.14%), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=5.94, P<0.05). The numbers of cesarean section and vaginal delivery in the pregnant women with FOC in the cognitive group were 6 cases (11.11%) and 48 cases (88.89%), respectively, while the corresponding numbers in the pregnant women with FOC in the non-cognitive group were 54 cases (91.53%) and 5 cases (8.47%), respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=73.21, P<0.01). The numbers of cesarean section and vaginal delivery in the pregnant women without FOC in the cognitive group were 42 cases (11.89%) and 311 cases (88.11%), respectively, while the corresponding numbers in the pregnant women without FOC in the non-cognitive group were 78 cases (33.33%) and 156 cases (66.67%), respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=39.74, P<0.01). Conclusion Women's knowledge about painless childbirth will reduce their FOC, and then urge them to choose the delivery way they like for childbirth (vaginal delivery). Thus, it is essential to provide antenatal education for pregnant women. Key words: Parturition; Fear; Delivery way