Fear Of Childbirth In Women Research Articles

The Relationship Between Midwifery Students’ Attitudes Towards Marriage and Birth Fears

Aim: This research was conducted to determine the relationship between midwifery students' attitudes towards marriage and their fear of birth. 
 Method: A cross-sectional and relation-seeking study was conducted with students from the Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, of two universities in eastern Turkey. In the study, all midwifery students studying at both universities were tried to be reached, rather than sampling. The study was completed with 372 midwifery students who participated in the study on a voluntary basis. The data of the study were collected with “Personal Information Form”, “Inonu Marriage Attitude Scale (IMAS)” and “Women Childbirth Fear – Prior to Pregnancy Scale (WCF-PPS)”. In the evaluation of the data, number, percentage distributions, mean, standard deviation, Independent t-test, One-Way Anova, Tukey and correlation tests were used in SPSS (25.0) statistical package program.
 Results: The mean age of the students was 20.71±1.55. 80.1% of the students have an immediate family, 54.3% live in the city center, 96.8% do not work, and 56.7% of them have income equal to their expenses. The total mean scores of the students from IMAS and WCF-PPS are respectively; 69.73±20.01 and 36.37±12.00. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between students' attitudes towards marriage and fear of birth (p

FEAR OF PREGNANCY AND BIRTH

This study aimed to examine the relationship between internet use and fear of childbirth in pregnant women. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 385 pregnant women who were referred to a hospital in Turkey. Data were collected using a personal information form and the Women Childbirth Fear – Prior to Pregnancy Scale (WCF-PPS). The WCF-PPS total mean score of the pregnant women was 38.04±10.49 (17-60) and there was a weakly significant positive correlation between their WCF-PPS total score and duration of daily internet use. In addition, there was a statistically significant relationship between their WCF-PPS total mean score, the issues searched on the Internet about pregnancy/childbirth, the status of believing in the accuracy of the information they obtained on the Internet, the status of confirming this information by health professionals, and the status of having concerns about this information (p

Women's fear of childbirth during pregnancy: A concept analysis

AbstractPurposeTo map and analyze the concept of women's fear of childbirth (FOC) during pregnancy and to develop a new nursing diagnosis (ND).MethodsConcept analysis based on Walker and Avant's methodology. An integrative literature search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL Complete databases, including peer‐reviewed articles published in English from January 1981 to October 2022.FindingsThirty‐one studies were included in the review. Women's FOC during pregnancy comprises three central categories: attributes, antecedents, and consequences. Nine main characteristics (attributes) are related to one or more of eight prior conditions (antecedents) that have the potential to exert negative or favorable impacts (consequences), depending on whether coping strategies have been a part of a fearful woman's pregnancy. These elements and relationships among them should be viewed as dynamic.ConclusionsWomen's FOC during pregnancy is a subjective, multidimensional, and dynamic concept that benefits prenatal care responses. A conceptual matrix on prenatal care will consider the factors underlying women's FOC and their potential mechanisms, how fearful pregnant women respond, the aspects that shape FOC, and how it influences outcomes when supporting pregnant women with FOC. Therefore, the study findings can be used to inform ways of identifying fearful women or as a basis for interventions to manage fears and enhance the confidence of pregnant women for childbirth.Implications for nursing practiceThe results of this study help nurses, OB nursing practitioners, nurse–midwives, and midwives to identify the condition of women's FOC during pregnancy and guide nursing therapeutic interventions to decrease the negative effects on women's health and well‐being. Therefore, there are valuable reasons to propose using “fear of childbirth” as a ND in the class “coping responses” within domain coping/stress tolerance, contributing to refining the NANDA‐I taxonomy.

Beyond Fear: Unveiling the Relationship Between Fear of Childbirth and Pharmacological Pain Relief

BackgroundPharmacological analgesia is the dominant method for pain relief in labor. Fear of childbirth (FOC) may significantly affect women's preferences for and usage of pharmacological analgesia. AimThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between FOC in late pregnancy and preferences for, as well as actual use of, pharmacological analgesia among nulliparous and multiparous women, accounting for confounding factors. MethodsA total of 1,300 women participated in the study, completing questionnaires assessing preferences for pharmacological analgesia, FOC, perception of labor pain, social support, coping styles, and demographic variables. The actual use of pharmacological analgesia was followed up. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. ResultsUnivariate analysis revealed that women with moderate to severe FOC had a stronger preference for pharmacological analgesia compared to those with none to mild FOC. However, multivariate analysis showed no direct association between FOC and actual usage of pharmacological analgesia. Instead, a stronger preference for pharmacological analgesia increased the likelihood of its actual usage during labor. ConclusionsOur study underscores the effect of FOC on preferences for pharmacological analgesia and its potential influence on actual usage during labor. Healthcare providers should consider women's FOC and preferences when evaluating pain management options. Targeted interventions focusing on promoting non-pharmacological techniques should be implemented to optimize labor pain management for women, particularly nulliparous women.

Prevalence of Fear of Childbirth and its Effective Factors in Pregnant Women in Babol, Iran (2019- 2020): A Cross-sectional Study

Objectives: Fear of childbirth may be associated with increased anxiety, cesarean section, and delayed delivery. The study aimed to screen for fear of childbirth and the factors affecting it in pregnant women from 2019 to 2020 in Babol, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 600 pregnant women with gestation age > 20 weeks referred to antenatal care clinics of Ayatollah Rouhani, Shahid Yahya Nejad Hospital, four health centers, and three private offices of obstetricians in Babol, Iran from 2019 to 2020 were surveyed using the Wijma Fear of Childbirth Questionnaire. Considering the cut-off point of 85, women with severe fear of childbirth were identified. Results: The fear of childbirth prevalence in pregnant women in this study was 29.2% (175/600). Fear of childbirth in women with postgraduate education was 3.27 times higher than in women with undergraduate education (P<0.001). Pregnancy fears were 0.42 times higher in pregnant women with self-employed spouses than in employee spouses (P<0.001). Also, women with a history of infertility were 2.73 times more likely to fear childbirth than women without a history of infertility (P=0.01). Women with a history of psychiatric disorders were 6.86 times more afraid of childbirth than women without a history of psychiatric disorders (P=0.02). Conclusions: Due to the high prevalence of fear of childbirth in pregnant women in Babol, Iran, the need for particular psychological interventions to reduce the fear of childbirth and identify risk factors is suggested.

Predictors regarding childbirth fear prior to pregnancy: A study on female and male student

Several predictors of childbirth fear during pregnancy have been identified. However, the influence of prior to pregnancy parameters has not been elucidated. This study was conducted to determine childbirth fear prior to pregnancy and identify its predictors among XXX female and male students. This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and June 2018. The sample consisted of 842 students (421 female and 421 male) who were studying at a state university in the eastern side of XXX. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Women Childbirth Fear – Prior to Pregnancy Scale, the Men Childbirth Fear – Prior to Pregnancy Scale, the Ten-Item Personality Inventory, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. A hierarchical linear regression model indicated that planning to have a cesarean section, expected labor pain, being extroverted, being agreeable, and anxiety were among the important indicators of female students’ childbirth fear prior to pregnancy (β=0.147, β=0.162, β=0.124, β=0.124, and β=0.183, respectively; p<0.05). According to a simple linear regression model, expected labor pain, being extroverted, characteristics of neuroticism, and anxiety were among the most important indicators of male students’ childbirth fear prior to pregnancy (β=0.164, β=0.113, β=0.153, and β=0.130, respectively; p<0.05). Severe labor pain expectancy and high anxiety levels are predictors of childbirth fear prior to pregnancy in both female and male students. Extroversion and agreeableness in female students; extroversion and neuroticism in male students are personality traits that affect childbirth fear prior to pregnancy.

Primigravida Women's Fear of Childbirth and Its Effect on Their Decision Regarding Mode of Delivery

Primigravida Women's Fear of Childbirth and Its Effect on Their Decision Regarding Mode of Delivery

Effectiveness of solution-focused counseling therapy on pregnancy anxiety and fear of childbirth: A randomized clinical trial

Background & Aim: Fear of childbirth and pregnancy anxiety may affect the desire for normal delivery. No study has investigated the effectiveness of solution-focused counseling on either pregnancy anxiety or all factors comprising fear of childbirth. We aimed to investigate the effects of solution-focused counseling in reducing pregnancy anxiety and fear of childbirth.
 Methods & Materials: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 132 nulliparous women in 2019. Participants with moderate to a severe fear of childbirth were randomly divided into the intervention and control groups. The intervention group participated in five solution-focused counseling sessions. Before and after the intervention, women filled the anxiety scale for pregnancy and the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (W-DEQ). Data were analyzed using t-test, paired t-test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).
 Results: The two groups did not differ in terms of demographic and obstetric variables and pregnancy anxiety pre-test scores (P>0.05). The means of the post-test total scores and the means of scores for all five factors of the ASP were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p<0.001). The adjusted means of total scores and the adjusted means of scores for all six factors of the WDE-Q were significantly lower in the intervention group than the control group (p<0.001).
 Conclusion: The solution-focused counseling reduced pregnancy anxiety and fear of childbirth in women participating in counseling sessions compared to the controls. Solution-focused counseling therapy sessions should be held for women with pregnancy anxiety and fear of childbirth.

The effect of psychoeducation on fear of childbirth and birth type: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective Psychoeducation is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention for women that provide information, support for a better understanding and coping with fear of childbirth (FOC). Although there have been some studies examining the effects of psychoeducation on FOC and cesarean section (CS), there is no high quality evidence. This systematic review and meta-analysis study aimed to investigate the effects of psychoeducation on FOC and CS rate. Methods Literature research was performed in CINAHL, PubMed, Science Direct, OVID, Medline, Science Citation Index (Web of Science) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials until April 2018. This study is based on the recommendations of the Cochrane guidelines. The analysis was conducted using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Program Version 3. Results Four randomized controlled studies and three non-randomized controlled studies were selected; six studies were combined for FOC and four studies were combined for CS rate. Meta-analysis revealed that psychoeducation is effective in reducing pregnant women's FOC (hedges’ g 0.59, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.46–0.72, p = .000; 931 women) and the CS rate (Odds Ratio 1.730, 95% CI 1.285–2.330, p = .000; 682 women). Conclusion This study provides sufficient evidence that psychoeducation is an effective to reduce FOC and CS rate.

Fear of childbirth in urban and rural regions of Turkey: Comparison of two resident populations.

OBJECTIVE:Childbirth is a natural physiological event experienced by many women; however, it is frequently also a source of fear in women. Rates of cesarean sections in Turkey are higher in the urban areas than in the rural areas. We hypothesized that lower fear of childbirth (FOC) rates would be observed in the city having the lowest cesarean section rates in Turkey. This study aimed to compare FOC in women in two resident populations: one in a rural area and the other in an urban area.METHODS:This study was conducted on 253 pregnant women in Istanbul, a large urban municipality, and Siirt, a city in rural Turkey. A descriptive information form and the A version of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) were used.RESULTS:Severe FOC levels were recorded in women in the Istanbul sample; moreover, these levels were higher than those recorded in women in the Siirt sample. In addition, women in the Istanbul sample preferred vaginal birth to cesarean section and had greater FOC, a finding which demonstrates that women prefer vaginal birth even though they have a higher FOC level and live in a city with high cesarean section rates. Where women live (rural versus urban areas) affects their perception of birth and consequently, their FOC levels.CONCLUSION:The results of this study suggest that further cross-cultural and regional research is needed for better understanding FOC and factors associated with elevated FOC levels within each cultural setting.

Fear of childbirth in women with normal pregnancy evolution

The authors aimed to research the prevalence of fear of childbirth (FOC) in women with a positive birth experience and some factors associated with FOC.The study sample consisted of 817 women with positive birth experience within the last month of their pregnancy from February 2012 to May 2013. The data were collected with a questionnaire form including women's demographic-obstetric information and the Turkish form of Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire. Whether it was a planned pregnancy and their preferable delivery method for the current pregnancy were recorded.The total number of women with FOC was found to be 128 (15.6%). None of the patients had severe FOC. Fear of labour pain was found as the major cause for preferring cesarean section (73.5%). FOC was associated with preferring delivery methods (OR 5.91, 95% CI 3.96-8.84). FOC was associated with pregnancy planning status (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.66-3.58).Fear of childbirth may be seen to some extent in women with a positive birth experience. However even with woman's positive birth experience, it is important to avoid severe FOC. The pregnancy planning status should be evaluated in the early stages of pregnancy and maternal education programs may be offered to reduce FOC level.

Exploring women's fear of childbirth in a high maternal mortality setting on the Arabian Peninsula.

Few studies from low-income countries have addressed women's fear of childbirth (FOC) although likely to affect women during both pregnancy and childbirth. The aim of this study was to explore FOC in a high maternal mortality setting in the Arab region, Yemen. A multi-stage (stratified-purposive-random) sampling process was used. We interviewed 220 women with childbirth experience in urban/rural Yemen. Answers to the question 'Were you afraid of giving birth?' were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Women perceived childbirth as a place of danger. Fear of death and childbirth complications stemming from previous traumatic childbirth and traumatic experience in the community was rampant. Husbands' and in-laws' disappointment in a girl infant constituted a strong sociocultural component of FOC. Women's perception of living in tension 'between worlds' of tradition and modernity reinforced fear of institutional childbirth. Women without FOC gave reasons of faith, social belonging and trust in either traditional or modern childbirth practice, past positive experience of childbirth and the desire for social status associated with children. The numerous maternal and infant deaths have a strong impact on women's FOC. Antenatal care has an important role in reducing fear including that of institutional childbirth and in strengthening a couple in welcoming a female infant. Staff should be sensitized to the fears of both husband and wife and women be allowed support during childbirth. Within the scope of the Millennium Development Goals and strengthening of reproductive mental health programs, FOC urgently needs to be addressed.

Study protocol for reducing childbirth fear: a midwife-led psycho-education intervention

BackgroundChildbirth fear has received considerable attention in Scandinavian countries, and the United Kingdom, but not in Australia. For first-time mothers, fear is often linked to a perceived lack of control and disbelief in the body’s ability to give birth safely, whereas multiparous women may be fearful as a result of previous negative and/or traumatic birth experiences. There have been few well-designed intervention studies that test interventions to address women’s childbirth fear, support normal birth, and diminish the possibility of a negative birth experience.Methods/designPregnant women in their second trimester of pregnancy will be recruited and screened from antenatal clinics in Queensland, Australia. Women reporting high childbirth fear will be randomly allocated to the intervention or control group. The psycho-educational intervention is offered by midwives over the telephone at 24 and 34 weeks of pregnancy. The intervention aims to review birth expectations, work through distressing elements of childbirth, discuss strategies to develop support networks, affirm that negative childbirth events can be managed and develop a birth plan. Women in the control group will receive standard care offered by the public funded maternity services in Australia. All women will receive an information booklet on childbirth choices. Data will be collected at recruitment during the second trimester, 36 weeks of pregnancy, and 4–6 weeks after birth.DiscussionThis study aims to test the efficacy of a brief, midwife-led psycho-education counselling (known as BELIEF: Birth Emotions - Looking to Improve Expectant Fear) to reduce women’s childbirth fear. 1) Relative to controls, women receiving BELIEF will report lower levels of childbirth fear at term; 2) less decisional conflict; 3) less depressive symptoms; 4) better childbirth self-efficacy; and 5) improved health and obstetric outcomes.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Controlled Trials Registry ACTRN12612000526875.

A prospective study of effects of psychological factors and sleep on obstetric interventions, mode of birth, and neonatal outcomes among low-risk British Columbian women

BackgroundObstetrical interventions, including caesarean sections, are increasing in Canada. Canadian women’s psychological states, fatigue, and sleep have not been examined prospectively for contributions to obstetric interventions and adverse neonatal outcomes.Context and purpose of the study: The prospective study was conducted in British Columbia (BC), Canada with 650 low-risk pregnant women. Of those women, 624 were included in this study. Women were recruited through providers’ offices, media, posters, and pregnancy fairs. We examined associations between pregnant women’s fatigue, sleep deprivation, and psychological states (anxiety and childbirth fear) and women’s exposure to obstetrical interventions and adverse neonatal outcomes (preterm, admission to NICU, low APGARS, and low birth weight).MethodsData from our cross-sectional survey were linked, using women’s personal health numbers, to birth outcomes from the Perinatal Services BC database. After stratifying for parity, we used Pearson’s Chi-square to examine associations between psychological states, fatigue, sleep deprivation and maternal characteristics. We used hierarchical logistic regression modeling to test 9 hypotheses comparing women with high and low childbirth fear and anxiety on likelihood of having epidural anaesthetic, a caesarean section (stratified for parity), assisted vaginal delivery, and adverse neonatal outcomes and women with and without sleep deprivation and high levels of fatigue on likelihood of giving birth by caesarean section, while controlling for maternal, obstetrical (e.g., infant macrosomia), and psychological variables.ResultsSignificantly higher proportions of multiparas, reporting difficult and upsetting labours and births, expectations of childbirth interventions, and health stressors, reported high levels of childbirth fear. Women who reported antenatal relationship, housing, financial, and health stressors and multiparas reporting low family incomes were significantly more likely to report high anxiety levels. The hypothesis that high childbirth fear significantly increased the risk of using epidural anaesthesia was supported.ConclusionsControlling for some psychological states and sleep quality while examining other contributors to outcomes decreases the likelihood of linking childbirth fear anxiety, sleep deprivation, and fatigue to increased odds of caesarean section. Ameliorating women’s childbirth fear to reduce their exposure to epidural anaesthesia can occur through developing effective interventions. These include helping multiparous women process previous experiences of difficult and upsetting labour and birth.

Fear of childbirth in obstetrically low‐risk nulliparous women in Sweden and Denmark

The prevalence of troublesome fear of childbirth (FOC) in Western countries is about 20%, of which approximately 6–10% suffer from severe FOC that impacts daily life. The countries of Sweden and Denmark are quite alike as far as childbirth culture is concerned. However, to some extent they differ in the organisation of midwifery care during the antenatal and labour period, respectively, and this may influence women's FOC. The aims of this study were to compare FOC among Danish and Swedish nulliparous women and to investigate a possible difference in FOC between women who, during pregnancy, had met the midwife who they were subsequently coincidentally allocated to receive labour care from and women who had not previously met the midwife. In total 165 women participated, comprising 55 Swedes and 110 Danes, of whom 55 among the latter group had met the midwife during pregnancy. Severe FOC was found in 10%. There were no differences between the Swedish women and the Danish women who had or had not met the midwife. Fear of childbirth measured in gestational week 37 correlated positively with fear at admission to the labour ward.

Do Women with Epilepsy Have More Fear of Childbirth During Pregnancy Compared with Women without Epilepsy? A Case‐Control Study

Although anxiety and depression in populations with epilepsy have been studied, no research on fear of childbirth in women with epilepsy have been conducted. The purposes of this study were to examine whether a significant difference occurred in fear of childbirth between pregnant women with epilepsy and pregnant healthy controls and to evaluate the most common fears. Fifty pregnant women with epilepsy and 50 pregnant women without epilepsy were assessed at a gestational age between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, using two questionnaires for the measurement of fear of childbirth, an open question, and a clinical interview. We found that during pregnancy, women with epilepsy experienced a significantly higher rate of fear of childbirth when compared with healthy controls, whereas after delivery, the experiences and feelings about childbirth are almost the same as those of women without epilepsy. Our findings signify the importance of the assessment of the fear of childbirth, especially in women with epilepsy, and the need to offer professional and ad hoc support to those who suffer from it.

How social context impacts on women's fears of childbirth: A Western Australian example

This paper addresses the limited sociological understanding of the phenomena of childbirth fear using data from a qualitative research project conducted in Western Australia. This qualitative study used an exploratory descriptive design, with 22 women identified as being fearful of birth participating in an in-depth interview. Data analysis using the method of constant comparison revealed that social context, explored within the framework of the medicalisation of childbirth, and the intervening circumstances in which the women gave birth, impacted on how and why they experienced fear. As such, this paper argues that fear of childbirth has social as well as personal dimensions and is both a prospective and retrospective phenomena. The analysis identified prospective fear as both social and personal. The social dimensions were labelled as ‘fear of the unknown’, ‘horror stories’ and ‘general fear for the well-being of the baby’. Personal dimensions included the ‘fear of pain’, ‘losing control and disempowerment’ and ‘uniqueness of each birth’. Retrospective fear was exclusively personal and was clustered around the themes of ‘previous horror birth’ and ‘speed of birth’. The analysis also revealed two central factors that mediated against childbirth fear: positive relationships formed with midwives, and the support women received from their informal network. Understanding and unpacking the dimensions of women's childbirth fear, and understanding the nature of relationships that mediate women's fear, provides health care professionals with information on which to base potential intervention strategies and support women in ways that lessen rather than heighten their fear.