Abstract
The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ-B) is an instrument that allows the experiences around fear of childbirth to be examined after the birth. It is currently the most widely used to measure different aspects related to the fear of childbirth and enables healthcare and additional assistance to women after birth to be adapted according to their needs. The objective of this study was to translate the W-DEQ-B into Spanish and analyse its reliability and validity. The study was carried out in two phases: (1) transcultural adaption of the questionnaire to Spanish and (2) a transversal study in a sample of 190 postpartum women from Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinics in the province of Barcelona (Spain). The psychometric properties were examined in terms of reliability (internal consistency and temporal stability) and construct validity (confirmatory factorial analysis [CFA] and exploratory factorial analysis [EFA]). The results of the CFA did not confirm unidimensionality of the W-DEQ-B questionnaire. The EFA suggested four very similar, but not identical, dimensions to those obtained in other studies in which the W-DEQ-B has been evaluated. Both the Cronbach’s alpha and the omega coefficient were adequate for the total questionnaire and for each of the four dimensions. The results of this study confirm that the W-DEQ-B is multi-dimensional. In the Spanish version of the W-DEQ-B-Sp four dimensions have been identified that allow the experiences around fear of childbirth to be examined after the birth. The Spanish version of the WDEQ-B (WDEQ-B-Sp) is reliable and valid for the measurement of fear of childbirth in clinical practice and for use in future research.
Highlights
Fear of childbirth has aroused an increased interest in the scientific community in recent years [1]
It has been estimated that fear of childbirth is more prevalent amongst nulliparous women [2,3] it has been seen in multiparous women in relation to a negative birth experience [4,5,6,7] and/or a previous emergency cesarian section [8]
The first consisted of adapting the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ)-B to Spanish; and in the second phase the metrics of the Spanish version were analyzed
Summary
Fear of childbirth has aroused an increased interest in the scientific community in recent years [1]. The effects of fear on the development of the pregnancy and the birth have been widely studied [1]. The prevalence of fear of childbirth is difficult to establish according to the different research studies and populations in which it has been evaluated, a recent metaanalysis evaluated and documented global prevalence of 14% [2]. It has been estimated that fear of childbirth is more prevalent amongst nulliparous women [2,3] it has been seen in multiparous women in relation to a negative birth experience [4,5,6,7] and/or a previous emergency cesarian section [8]. Women describe the fear as “a ghost that gets into my head” or a “huge knot in my stomach” and “remembering waking up terrified in a cold sweat because of thoughts of the coming birth,” which leads them to avoid it, as one strategy amongst others, to cope with it [11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
