Antenatal Classes Research Articles

COVID-19 impact on childhood vaccination attitudes in pregnant antenatal class attendants in Rome

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease in vaccination rates, impacting vulnerable populations such as pregnant women (PW), who concern about future children’s immunisations. The aim of this study was to assess whether the pandemic led to changes in childhood vaccination attitudes among PW attending antenatal classes at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli in Rome. Specifically, it assessed the impact of the pandemic on the perceived usefulness of information sources, their trust in healthcare workers (HCWs) and the National Health Service (NHS), their perception of the risk of infection and severity of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), and their vaccination intentions. Methods A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted across three flu seasons by administering an anonymous questionnaire: one before and two during the pandemic. Intention to vaccinate children was expressed as the percentage of PW who selected each vaccination from the questionnaire. Trust in HCWs and the NHS, and perception of the risk of infection and severity of VPDs were expressed as the percentage of PW who answered “quite” or “very”. For the usefulness of information sources, mean scores were calculated. To assess differences of the three periods a chi-square test was performed (p = 0.05). Results Course attendance surged from 105 to 340. Significant shifts in vaccination intentions were noted: 7.5% and 10% decreases for measles (p = 0.02) and pertussis (p = 0.004), respectively, from 2019-20 to 2020-21. Perceived contagion risk decreased, but perceived disease severity increased. A significant reduction in the proportion of PW suspecting economic interest behind NHS workers promoting vaccination, and an increase in the perceived usefulness of non-institutional websites and of the advice from non-NHS physicians were noted. Conclusions PW’s attitudes towards vaccinations might have been modified by COVID-19 pandemic, regarding risk perception and trust in NHS HCWs. Key messages • Our findings suggests that PW’s attitudes towards childhood vaccinations might be modified by the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular risk perception and trust in NHS healthcare workers. • These findings could help Public Health to develop evidence-based interventions and communication strategies, to maintain vaccine confidence and mitigate potential adverse effects.

Lived experiences of women with uterine rupture who were managed at Nekemte specialized hospital: a qualitative study

BackgroundUterine rupture is a rare but severe obstetric complication that poses significant risks to maternal and fetal health. Understanding the lived experiences of individuals who have undergone uterine rupture is crucial for improving care and support for those affected by this condition. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the experiences of individuals who have experienced uterine rupture.MethodThe study employed a qualitative phenomenological approach, conducting 12 in-depth interviews and four key informant interviews with individuals who had experienced uterine rupture. Data analysis was conducted thematically using Atlas ti software to identify patterns and themes within the participants’ narratives.ResultsThe analysis of the interviews highlighted six key themes: experience during diagnosis and initial symptoms, perceived predisposing factors of uterine rupture, challenges faced by individuals with uterine rupture, impacts on their lives, and coping and resilience strategies. The findings revealed that women often failed to recognise the initial symptoms of uterine rupture due to a lack of preparation, a preference for home deliveries, husband refusal, and a general lack of awareness. This delay in seeking care resulted in severe consequences, including the loss of their babies, infertility, fistula, psychological trauma, and disruptions to daily life and relationships. To cope, many women resorted to accepting their situation, isolating themselves, and using traditional healing techniques.ConclusionsThis study’s findings provide valuable insights into the complex and multifaceted nature of uterine rupture, shedding light on the experiences of those affected by this condition. To address the challenges, it is essential to enhance awareness and education through community education programs and comprehensive antenatal classes. Additionally, improving access to healthcare by strengthening health infrastructure and deploying mobile health clinics can ensure better prenatal care. Furthermore, encouraging hospital deliveries through incentives and the support of community health workers can reduce risks. Providing psychological counselling and establishing support groups can help affected women cope with the consequences. Moreover, engaging men in maternal health through educational programs and involving them in antenatal care can foster better support. Finally, promoting safe traditional practices by integrating traditional healers and respecting cultural sensitivities can increase acceptance and adherence.

Study protocol of a breathing and relaxation intervention included in antenatal education: A randomised controlled trial (BreLax study).

Antenatal education is part of antenatal care in many countries. Physical and mental preparation for childbirth and information on pain management are considered key elements of antenatal education classes. Evidence suggests that women who participate in antenatal education classes appear to benefit in terms of self-efficacy and childbirth experience. In particular, women with increased fear of childbirth benefit from trained breathing and relaxation techniques in antenatal education. However, little is known about the effect of breathing and relaxation techniques on the outcomes of healthy pregnant women without fear of childbirth or who do not have medical or obstetric risks, or on neonatal outcomes. The aim of this study is to test whether including a breathing and relaxation technique in an antenatal education class will improve self-efficacy towards birth compared to a standard antenatal education class. The study will be a two-armed randomised controlled trial (RCT). Healthy pregnant women between the 12th and 30th week of gestation with singleton low-risk pregnancies and who are receiving routine antenatal care will be recruited in a hospital in Switzerland. All women included will attend an 8-hour antenatal education class. The intervention group will additionally practise a breathing and relaxation technique, receive a handbook to guide their exercise practice at home, and be provided with access to an online brochure with video and audio recordings for guidance. Data on maternal and neonatal outcomes will be collected after recruitment, in the 37th week of pregnancy, and two to four weeks postpartum. The effectiveness of including a breathing and relaxation technique in antenatal education classes on women's self-efficacy is discussed as a means to improving women's pregnancy and childbirth outcomes. NCT06003946, SNCTP000005672.

Empowering Expecting Mothers: The Impact of Antenatal Classes on Child Birth Experience.

Introduction Antenatal education is one of the ways to increase a woman's knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth, which could improve self-efficacy during labor, making the expecting mothers well-prepared for labor and nursing. One of the ways for its delivery could be via well-structured antenatal classes. Such classes are part of many countries' healthcare systems and have proven to decline maternal anxiety, shorten labor, increase partner involvement, and overall improve labor experience. However, at the same time, such classes can augment more interventions in labor, induction of labor, and epidural usage. Despite the heterogeneous results of their effect, the high demands of antenatal education amongpregnant women can justify its incorporation into antenatal care. By allowing the women to identify labor correctly and preventing admission in false labor, shortening the labor, and teaching women non-pharmacologic ways to manage labor pains, it can reduce the patient and fiscal burden on the already overwhelmed maternity units of Pakistan, hence proving to be an inexpensive health promotion tool. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecologyof Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan, between December 2020 and June 2021. All pregnant women, aged 18 to 45 years, between gestational ages of 37 to 42 weeks, with singleton, cephalic pregnancy, booked during the first or second trimester, and who attended at least one antenatal class, were invited to participate. Women who had any contraindication to vaginal delivery, whose labor was induced, or who suffered from medical, psychological, or obstetric comorbidities were excused. The participants were observed for labor outcomes in terms of stage of labor on arrival, use of epidural analgesia, mode of delivery, and childbirth experience, using a validated research tool, known as the Questionnaire for Assessing the Childbirth Experience (QACE)to identify women with a positive or negative childbirth experience. A higher score representing on the questionnaire represented a more negative birth experience. A score of less than 19 was considereda positive birth experience. Data was analyzed using IBMStatistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics for Windows, Version 19. Results The mean QACE score was reported as 18.2±3.00, reflecting that on average the mothers had a positive childbirth experience. Modes of delivery revealed 57.6% of the women delivering spontaneously, with 60.4% of them arriving in the labor room in active labor. Demand for labor analgesia in the form of epidural was 64%. Majorly the participants attended only one antenatal class, with 66.91% of women reporting a positive childbirth experience. Conclusion Antenatal education classes are a low-input, high-yielding resourcethat can be used to empower mothers with pertinent information and support for a pleasant childbirth experience while simultaneously taking the edge off the overburdened maternity wards of low resources, in densely populated countries like Pakistan. Hence it is the need of the hour to devise plans to invest in these classes to make them available to the masses.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training During Pregnancy: Effects on Mental State, Delivery and Labour Pain - a Prospective Study.

Progressive muscle relaxation is a widely used technique for relaxation, but studies are rare about efficacy on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. Aim of our study was to determine whether progressive muscle relaxation affects anxiety and depression levels of pregnant women, pregnancy outcomes, labour pain and analgesic requirements. 156 pregnant women were enrolled in a prospective non-randomized controlled cohort study. The control group received standard antenatal care and classes only, while the intervention group additionally received progressive muscle relaxation training once a week for six weeks. Anxiety, depression and current strain were measured in a pretest-posttest experimental design using self-report scales at baseline (1 st survey), 5 weeks later (2 nd survey) and during puerperium (3 rd survey). Numeric Rating scales were used for measuring labour pain and satisfaction with analgesic treatment in the 3 rd survey. Fifty complete questionnaires from each group were analysed. There were no differences in mental status between the groups at baseline. Progressive muscle relaxation training significantly reduced depression levels. Trait anxiety, reflecting a person's basic anxiety decreased significantly in both groups during puerperium. No differences in pregnancy outcomes, labour pain and analgesic requirements could be shown within both groups in general. Nonetheless, women attending more than five progressive muscle relaxation courses reported significantly less labour pain within the group and compared to controls. Pregnant women could benefit from progressive muscle relaxation training if used continuously. Relaxation methods should be a substantial part of prenatal care and available for everyone.

The effect of breastfeeding education with digital storytelling on fathers' breastfeeding self-efficacy.

There is growing evidence that fathers play an important role in the breastfeeding process and that fathers need education about breastfeeding. In our age of rapidly developing technology, the use of new teaching techniques in the education of fathers will provide more effective results. In this study, the effect of breastfeeding education given with digital storytelling method on fathers' breastfeeding self-efficacy was examined. The study is a pretest-posttest randomized controlled trial. The study was conducted with the husbands of 80 pregnant women admitted to the childbirth preparation class of a state hospital. The study included a control group and an intervention of educational videos using a digital storytelling technique. Fathers were recruited from hospital antenatal classes and randomized to one of the two groups. Personal Information Form and Paternal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form were used for data collection. Each father completed data collection forms at the beginning of the study and at 3 months postpartum. The η2 effect size was calculated for significant differences in the independent and dependent groups t test methods used in the analysis. There was a significant difference between the posttest scores of the fathers in the intervention and control groups (p < 0.05). When the effect sizes were analysed, it was found that the increase in the intervention group (t = -24.342) was higher than the control group (t = -8.385). In the current study, the effect of using digital storytelling method in breastfeeding education on fathers' breastfeeding self-efficacy was found to be significantly higher than routine education. It is recommended that this new method be used in education and counselling and that studies be conducted to examine its effect on breastfeeding behaviour and fathers' breastfeeding support.

The influence of antenatal relaxation classes on perinatal psychological wellbeing and childbirth experiences: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT Background There is growing evidence that antenatal education incorporating relaxation practices can positively influence perinatal psychological wellbeing. However, a paucity of qualitative research is evident. Gaining insight into how and why such education may influence childbearing women, can inform the design of effective educational interventions. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of women and their partners on how and why a single Antenatal Relaxation Class (ARC) might influence perinatal psychological wellbeing and childbirth experiences. Method In this descriptive qualitative study, 17 women and 9 partners participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews and the data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study was carried out in a Scottish NHS Health Board where ARC was provided to expectant parents. Findings Two themes were generated, namely: ‘the turning point’, and ‘recognition of an inner resource’. Participants perceived ARC as ‘the turning point’ when they became more confident, equipped, and less fearful and anxious towards childbirth. ‘Understanding of the psychophysiological processes of childbirth’, ‘positive stories’, and ‘practice of relaxation techniques’ were reported as the main reasons for these positive changes. Participants explained ARC had enabled them to access a deep sense of calmness as ‘an inner resource’ and motivated the use of relaxation techniques as a self-care behaviour throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Conclusion A single antenatal relaxation class has the potential to enhance perinatal psychological wellbeing and childbirth experiences. This study provides valuable insights for maternity services seeking to develop effective health-promoting antenatal education.

Description of the culture of childbirth and parenting classes in Cyprus: An ethnographic approach.

Childbirth and parenting classes are very important because they potentially help couples to make the right decisions during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, which has a direct effect on the health of the mother and neonate. However, in Cyprus, the culture of childbirth and parenting classes has not been previously explored. An ethnographic study design was adopted, specifically non-participant observation was undertaken of 19 classes. Semi-structured telephone interviews were employed to collect data in addition to field notes and a reflective diary. Inductive content analysis was undertaken to analyze the data. Four main thematic categories emerged from data analysis: 1) Views and opinions about the course, 2) Important perinatal topics, 3) Usefulness and reasons for attending the classes, and 4) The journey of learning. The importance of antenatal classes has not been given sufficient attention in Cyprus. There is a clear need for a standardized curriculum within the current configuration of national maternity healthcare in Cyprus. Policymakers must implement a standardized curriculum, integrating diverse pedagogical methods to provide in-depth information for expectant parents and parents. While emphasizing the crucial role of midwives in perinatal education, this study also advocates for collaboration with other healthcare professionals emphasizing the imperative need for a comprehensive, standardized approach to perinatal education within the national healthcare system of Cyprus.

Codesign and refinement of an optimised antenatal education session to better inform women and prepare them for labour and birth

ObjectiveOur objective was to codesign, implement, evaluate acceptability and refine an optimised antenatal education session to improve birth preparedness.DesignThere were four distinct phases: codesign (focus groups and codesign workshops with...

Factors influencing satisfaction with birth

Couples plan their birth and empower themselves during pregnancy, mostly by searching information with midwifes. With the covid19 pandemic, it was necessary to think of different strategies to maintain this support, particularly in what antenatal classes are concerned. Thus, midwifes had to think “outside the box” and find different ways to hold antenatal classes: livestreaming was possible but, considering couples availability, online (recorded classes) was also an option. After some months, as pandemic began to rise, the “in person” option started to be held. The aim of this study is to identify which factors may influence satisfaction with the birth experience, namely the type of pre-birth program. A questionnaire was applied consisting of several socio-demographic variables, perception felt regarding the birth experience and variables recognized as having a strong influence on satisfaction with childbirth, with the woman being asked to provide her position/opinion. We concluded that the type of antenatal classes undertaken has no influence on satisfaction with the moment of birth, which is mostly related to factors such as the place where the birth took place (private hospital) and who performed it (midwife). Although the moment of birth is a multi-factorial moment, there are, in this sample, factors that are more important in influencing the experience than the information held on antenatal classes. However, the various factors already known must continue to be taken into account, thus allowing couples to live in the moment in an informed and empowered way.

Knowledge and attitudes of health care professionals regarding birth preparedness of women in labour at selected Hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A qualitative study

Introduction Low and middle-income countries account for the largest proportion of women’s deaths as a result of pregnancy or childbirth-related complications. The sub-Saharan region is the most affected with approximately 70% (202 000) of maternal deaths between 2000 and 2020. These deaths could have been prevented if expectant mothers were prepared for childbirth. Birth preparedness is perceived as a better strategy that helps attain a substantial reduction in maternal mortality. This is achieved by attending early antenatal classes, receiving skilled care during childbirth, and care and support right after birth. The latest survey on antenatal class attendance conducted in South Africa provides an estimated 30.8% of expectant mothers in public healthcare facilities. Methods Based on the action research method, this study employed a qualitative approach to collect data, as a result, one focus group discussion with five (N=5) participants and two others with six (N=6) participants each (n=6X2=12) and twenty individual interviews were conducted. The study sought to explore and describe the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals regarding the birth preparedness of women in labour at selected Hospitals in Durban KwaZulu-Natal. Results It was found that expectant mothers were unprepared for both labour and postnatal care. The unprepared expectant mothers were uncooperative and made the task of midwives difficult to the extent of endangering the life of their expected newborn and their own. Factors such as finance, heterogeneity, staff shortage, language barrier, lack of family support, lack of interest, cultural beliefs, and confusion caused by various sources of information were responsible for birth unpreparedness. Conclusion Therefore, the synergy between expectant mothers and midwives appears to be an important factor in achieving better birth preparedness.

Preparing solo mothers for childbirth and parenthood – The importance of being with like-minded women

ObjectivesDenmark and many high-income countries have seen an increase in the number of single women getting pregnant through medical assisted reproduction (MAR). These women are also named solo mothers. According to the Danish Health Authorities, they should, as all other pregnant women, be offered antenatal education. The aim of this study was to explore solo mothers’ needs in order to prepare them for childbirth and parenthood. MethodsThis qualitative study was set to investigate solo mothers’ experiences and requirements during pregnancy toprepare them for childbirth and parenting. Semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone or face-to-face. A systematic text condensation and interpretation was used to analyse data. Results38 interviews were conducted before and after pregnancy. Twenty solo mothers participated in the study. Three themes emerged from the analysis: ‘Confrontation with the normative pregnancy’, ‘Mirroring and network’ and ‘Using formal and informal sources to gain information’. ConclusionThe conventional antenatal packages offered by the healthcare system did not meet the solo mothers’ needs. The women called for content and information tailored to single parents. Solo mothers may benefit from structured antenatal classes in small groups. Being with like-minded women was essential for preparing for childbirth and parenting.

Association between obtaining injury prevention information and maternal and child health services during COVID-19

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 disrupted the delivery of public maternal and child health services to caregivers of preschool children, leading to decreased opportunities for injury prevention education. We aim to 1) explore the timing, content, and methods of providing injury prevention information desired by pregnant women and mothers and 2) identify mothers who experienced difficulty in obtaining injury prevention information owing to reduced maternal and child health services.MethodsFrom March 24 to 29, 2022, we conducted a population-based cross-sectional study and web-based survey. Of the registered monitors of the internet research company Rakuten Insight, 675 mothers raising their first child aged 0–2 during the COVID-19 period (February 2020 to March 2022) were included in the analysis.ResultsOver half of the mothers wanted injury prevention information throughout their pregnancy. They preferred receiving information through traditional face-to-face services provided by local governments, such as antenatal classes or checkups. However, 34.1% of mothers said they did not obtain the information they needed; this was particularly true of unemployed mothers, had children aged 0–1, and had children with illnesses requiring hospital visits.ConclusionsMothers who could not obtain injury prevention information were originally disadvantaged mothers concerning access to information. The decrease in maternal and child health services may have widened this information gap. These findings can inform recommendations for caregivers, particularly those susceptible to information gaps during emergencies, and offer insights into future injury prevention education strategies.

Pregnancy assistance for foreign women in Trentino Region (Northern Italy): retrospective cohort epidemiological study.

to identify any differences between Italian and foreign women in the access to prenatal care, including the number and appropriate scheduling of visits, the execution of diagnostic, blood, and microbiological tests and the use of specific healthcare services. retrospective cohort epidemiological study, based on the monitoring of current information flows. data extrapolated from the Birth Attendance Certificate information flow of the Autonomous Province of Trento (Northern Italy) between 2012 and 2016. A total of 23,165 women with data regarding citizenship were included in the analysis. outcome variables used to assess appropriateness of antenatal care were medically assisted procreation techniques, use of invasive prenatal diagnosis, gestational age at the first appointment, total number of appointments and ultrasounds during pregnancy, blood and microbiological tests taken, and participation in antenatal classes. data indicates a significant difference in the use of chorionic villus sampling, testing for Cytomegalovirus, and vaginal-rectal swab for the detection of group B streptococcus, which are lower in the foreign population. Furthermore, there is a statistically significant difference in the gestational age at which the first appointment is attended, in the total number of visits, and in the number of ultrasounds performed during pregnancy as well as in participation in antenatal classes. this study reveals significant differences in access and use of pregnancy assistance between foreign and Italian women. There are also differences in terms of social determinants of health, with a concentration of unemployment and low education in the foreign population. It is therefore necessary to identify the factors that can potentially create health inequalities, considering the socioeconomic determinants and the specific needs of migrant women.

Implementation of Online Antenatal Classes and Education of First-Time Mothers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experience of a Tertiary University Hospital in Nothern Greece

Implementation of Online Antenatal Classes and Education of First-Time Mothers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experience of a Tertiary University Hospital in Nothern Greece

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ANTENATAL HYPNOTHERAPY ON ANXIETY IN FACING THE CHILDBIRTH PROCESS

The Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in Indonesia is still around 305 per 100,000 Live Births, which has not yet reached the set target of 183 per 100,000 LB in 2024. One of the causes of this high rate is attributed to the anxiety experienced during pregnancy, reaching 373,000 cases. Antenatal hypnotherapy is an effort aimed at reducing maternal anxiety with the goal of preparing for a normal pregnancy and facilitating the labor process. Hypnotherapy in Antenatal care focuses on providing comfort to mothers by inducing deep relaxation. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of antenatal hypnotherapy in reducing anxiety during the labor process at PMB Pera Medan. The research employed a quantitative approach with a Quasi-Experimental Design (pseudo-experiment). The study utilized a One Group Pre-Test and Post-Test design. The population consisted of all third-trimester pregnant women at PMB Pera Medan, totaling 61 pregnant women, with a sample size of 16 selected through purposive sampling. The research findings indicate that the average anxiety level among third-trimester pregnant women at the Independent Practice of Midwife Pera Medan before receiving antenatal hypnotherapy was 30.1875 (moderate anxiety), which decreased to 13.8750 (mild anxiety) after receiving antenatal hypnotherapy. There is a significant influence of antenatal hypnotherapy on reducing anxiety during labor at PMB Pera Medan with a p-value of 0.000 &lt; 0.05. Therefore, it is advisable to continue antenatal hypnotherapy classes for pregnant women during each ANC visit and at home to reduce anxiety, thereby facilitating a normal labor process.

The usefulness of a birthing school in the male perception

Introduction: Conscious parenting and a modernfamily model have been constantly developing overthe years. Modern men's approach to parenting hasalso changed.Aim of the study: To examine why men participatein antenatal classes, how they perceive these classes,and whether participation and perception are influenced by the duration of marriage, men's age, education, and place of residence.Material and methods: The study included twogroups of 200 men who would become fathers thefollowing year and attended a birthing school(groupI) and those who would become fathers the followingyear and did not attend a birthing school(group II).The researchers used a diagnostic survey methodbased on a self-authorship survey consisting of ageneral part, a Questionnaire for EmpathicUnderstanding of Other People(KRE), and a CopingInventory for Stress Situations(CISS)Results: Only 138(34.5%) of the surveyed men fromboth groups participated in the previous childbirth oftheir wives or partners. Previously, 118(29.5%) ofthe surveyed men from both groups participated inantenatal classes. Most study subjects learned abouta birthing school from their wives: 248(58.8%). Thelevel of empathy in both groups was also assessed.The study subjects attending a birthing school mostoften presented a high level of empathy(92.5%), while those who did not participate had a lowlevel(61.5%). The analysis of a stress-coping styleshowed significant differences only in task-orientedcoping: it was used to the greatest extent by the menwho attended a birthing school. The men in group IImost often evaluated their knowledge of pregnancyand childbirth as low: 101(50.5%). The men fromgroup II paid more attention to knowledge gainedfrom TV than those from group I(37.5% vs. 34.5%).The majority of the subjects attending a birthingschool(97.8%) would recommend other fathers toparticipate in antenatal classesConclusions: Most often, when the men decided toparticipate in antenatal classes, they desired toprepare for the care of a baby, acquire knowledge ofmedical issues, and develop the ability to supporttheir wives/partners. Participation in antenatalclasses was more often declared by those who hadbeen in a relationship for up to one year or more thantwo years, did not have children, and had a universitydegree. The study subjects attending a birthingschool, compared to those not attending it, moreoften presented a high level of empathy and a taskoriented coping with stress.

Effectiveness of Childbirth Self-Efficacy Enhancing Classes on Labor Length and Outcomes among Egyptian Primiparous Women: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Childbirth self-efficacy has repeatedly been shown to raise satisfaction with childbirth, reduce the need for analgesic, and promote the use of different childbirth alternatives. However, the measures to improve the childbirth self-efficacy had rarely been investigated among Egyptian primiparous women. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of childbirth self-efficacy enhancing classes on labor length and outcomes among Egyptian primiparous women. A quasi-experimental research approach was carried out on prospective, consecutive sample of 148 pregnant women at the end of pregnancy. A prenatal education study group (n = 74) and a control group receiving standard antenatal care (n = 74) make up the first and second groups, respectively. Between October 2021 and October 2022, the study was conducted at the antenatal clinic. The following four tools were employed to fulfill the study's objective: A structured interviewing form, a childbirth self-efficacy inventory, a follow-up checklist for monitoring maternal and neonatal outcomes during labor, and three antenatal education sessions to boost childbirth self-efficacy are all examples of tools that can be used. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for windows version 20.0. Approximately 68.9% of women in the experimental group gave birth vaginally, compared to 29.7% of those in the control group with (p = .001), according to the study's findings. In the experimental group, regular labor took an average of 8 to 12 h, but it took more than 12 h in the control group. Birth weight (>3000g) in the experimental group compared to (2000-3000 g) in the control group, as well as the Apgar score at 1 min and 5 min, were highly statistically significance between two groups with (p = .001). The means±SD of the childbirth self-efficacy result scores were better in the study group than in control groups regarding length of delivery and vaginal delivery (248.2 ± 19.4 versus 144.6 ± 21.6 and 250.1 ± 18.2 versus 137.9 ± 21.5, respectively). According to the findings of this study, antenatal education classes have a real chance of assisting primiparous women in increasing their childbirth self-efficacy and improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.

What Makes Woman Afraid of Their Childbirth?: A Qualitative Study

Fear generally fills the minds of pregnant women as they enter the third trimester of gestation. The older the gestational age, the more attention and thoughts of pregnant women are drawn to the approaching climax of childbirth, intensifying their anxiety and fear. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of birth preparedness and fear of childbirth. A qualitative facility-based descriptive study design and client exit interview questionnaire were utilized, conducted in Primary Health Care Mondokan, Sragen, from April until June 2023 with 33 pregnant women. Study participants were selected through purposive sampling. Three categories highlighted the preparedness for childbirth, including finding primary sources of information, the importance of birth companions, and reminding about the natural process of childbirth. The fear of childbirth was associated with fear of the childbirth process, fear of the tools used during childbirth, and the condition of the unborn baby. The findings suggest that pregnant women should prepare for childbirth and increase their knowledge of delivery by participating in antenatal classes to reduce fear about the childbirth process. Therefore, family healthcare providers, health facilities, other partners, program-level managers, and policymakers must take responsibility for improving health education and increasing preparedness and complication readiness through easily accessible health education strategies.

Enhancing antenatal education in Pakistan: an audit and recommendations

BackgroundAntenatal Education equips parents with knowledge for safe maternal health and infant care. It also reduces fear and anxiety during childbirth. ANE curriculum can vary according to country and institute. It can include classes focusing on childbirth, pain relief techniques, mode of birth, parenting, breastfeeding, breathing techniques, etc. Although ANE is widely practiced in developed countries, there is no standard program in developing countries like Pakistan. This study aims to improve antenatal education at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan potentially proposing an upgraded curriculum as a national standard.MethodsThis multiphase study used mix-method design was conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of a tertiary care hospital of Karachi, Pakistan from 2019 to 2021. Phase 1 of the study included reviewing and comparing the hospital’s antenatal curriculum with existing literature, followed by Phase 2, which was a desk review of attendance and patient feedback. The 3rd phase involved IDIs (in depth interviews) from health care workers (Obstetrics experts) to understand their perspectives regarding the ANE and the conducted classes. For phase one, gaps were identified and reported theoretically. For phase two, the annual attendance was recorded and participants’ satisfaction with the classes assessed. Qualitative data from phase 2 and 3 was converted into themes and sub-themes.ResultsThe audit showed a decline in the attendance of antenatal classes due to the pandemic and consequent shift to online sessions. The low attendance in online courses could be attributed to various factors. Patient feedback was generally positive, with a majority expressing high satisfaction levels. Expert feedback highlighted the need for additional topics such as mental health and COVID in pregnancy, as well as fathers' involvement. The curriculum was updated to include these topics and made more interactive with printed handouts for parents.ConclusionA standardized antenatal education covering various topics surrounding pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care must be available to parents nationwide.