Prevalence and Predictors of Fear of Childbirth in Unselected Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of fear of childbirth (FOC) during pregnancy and to investigate the factors affecting FOC in pregnant women.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 150 pregnant women who admitted to Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Faculty of Medicine Gynecology and Obstetrics Polyclinic between January-March 2019. It was carried out using W-DEQ Scale and General Information Form prepared by the researchers.
RESULTS: Fear of childbirth in the whole group was found to be 50.97±25.773 according to W-DEQ score. The mean age and gestational week of the pregnant women were 27.8±6.072 years and 27.16±10.788 weeks, respectively. FOC was determined in 18.7% of the participants (W-DEQ≥85). Parity (p=0.047) and a concern of disorder in the baby after delivery (p=0.004) were identified to be significant factors for FOC. No association was found between FOC and maternal age, gestational week or delivery mode (p>0.05). The rate of receiving training about pregnancy and the level of trust in healthcare professionals about the birth process were found to be low.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The prevalence of training about pregnancy and the level of trust to healthcare staff related with childbirth process may be associated with each other. Thus, it is recommended to provide trainings to reduce the fears that may occur during pregnancy and to elevate the knowledge about pregnancy process by the Polyclinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics
References
- Demšar K, Svetina M, Verdenik I, Tul N, Blickstein I, Velikonja VG. Tokophobia (fear of childbirth): prevalence and risk factors. J Perinat Med.2018;46:151-54.
- Beiranvand SP, Moghadam ZB, Salsali M, Majd HA, Birjandi M, Khalesi ZB. Prevalence of fear of childbirth and its associated factors in primigravid women: A cross-sectional study. Shiraz E Med J. 2017;18.
- Phunyammalee M, Buayaem T, Boriboonhirunsarn D. Fear of childbirth and associated factors among low-risk pregnant women. J Obstet Gynaecol Res.2019;39:763-67.
- Calderani E, Giardinelli L, Scannerini S, Arcabasso S, Compagno E, Petraglia F, et al.Tocophobia in the DSM-5 era: Outcomes of a new cut-off analysis of the Wijma delivery expectancy/experience questionnaire based on clinical presentation. J Psychosom Res.2019;116:37-43.
- Ayers S. Fear of childbirth, postnatal post-traumatic stress disorder and midwifery care. Midwifery. 2014;30:145–48.
- Haines H, Pallant, JF, Karlström A, Hildingsson, I. Cross-cultural comparison of levels of childbirth-related fear in an Australian and Swedish sample. Midwifery. 2011;27:560-67.
- O'Connell MA, Leahy‐Warren P, Khashan AS, Kenny LC, O'Neill SM. Worldwide prevalence of tocophobia in pregnant women: systematic review and meta‐analysis. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2017;96:907-20.
- Lukasse M, Schei B, Ryding EL. Prevalence and associated factors of fear of childbirth in six European countries. Sex Reprod Healthc. 2014;5:99–106.
- Lowe NK. Self-efficacy for labor and childbirth fears in nulliparous pregnant women. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2000;21:219–24.
- Spice K, Jones SL, Hadjistavropoulos HD, Kowalyk K, Stewart SH. Prenatal fear of childbirth and anxiety sensitivity. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol.2009;30:168-74.
- Matinnia N, Faisal I, Hanafiah Juni M, Herjar A, Moeini B, Osman Z. Fears related to pregnancy and childbirth among primigravidae who requested caesarean versus vaginal delivery in Iran. Matern Child Health J. 2015;19:1121–30.
- O'Connell MA, Leahy‐Warren P, Kenny LC, O'Neill SM, Khashan AS. The prevalence and risk factors of fear of childbirth among pregnant women: A cross‐sectional study in Ireland. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand.2019;98:1014-23.
- Aksoy AN, Ozkan H, Gundogdu G. Fear of childbirth in women with normal pregnancy evolution. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2015;42:179–83.
- Çıtak Bilgin N, Coşkun H, Coşkuner Potur D, İbar Aydın E, Uca E. Psychosocial predictors of the fear of childbirth in Turkish pregnant women. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol.2020;1-9. doi: 10.1080/0167482X.2020.1734791.
- Kaya D, Evcili F. The affecting factors of childbirth fear for pregnant women admitted to a health center and university hospital in Turkey. J. Health Res.2020;34:393-97.
- Wijma K, Wijma B, Zar M. Psychometric aspects of the W-DEQ; a new questionnaire for the measurement of fear of childbirth. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol.1998;19:84-97.
- Korukcu O, Kukulu K, Firat MZ. The reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W‐DEQ) with pregnant women. J. Psychiatr. Ment. Health Nurs 2012;19:193-202.
- Khwepeya M, Lee GT, Chen SR, Kuo SY. Childbirth fear and related factors among pregnant and postpartum women in Malawi. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018;18:391.
- Mazúchová L, Škodová Z, Kelčíková S, Rabárová A. Factors Associated with Childbirth-Related Fear among Slovak Women. Cent. Eur. J. Nurs. Midwifery.2017;8:742-48.
- Mortazavi F, Agah J. Childbirth fear and associated factors in a sample of pregnant Iranian women. Oman Med J.2018;33:497-505.
- Nieminen K, Stephansson O, Ryding EL. Women's fear of childbirth and preference for cesarean section–a cross‐sectional study at various stages of pregnancy in Sweden. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2009;88:807-13.
- Rouhe H, Salmela‐Aro K, Halmesmäki E, Saisto, T. Fear of childbirth according to parity, gestational age, and obstetric history. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.2009;116:67-73.
- Larsson B, Karlström A, Rubertsson C, Hildingsson I. The effects of counseling on fear of childbirth. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2015;94:629-36.
- Adams SS, Eberhard‐Gran M, Eskild A. Fear of childbirth and duration of labour: a study of 2206 women with intended vaginal delivery. BJOG.2012;119:1238-46.
- Toohill J, Fenwick J, Gamble J, Creedy DK. Prevalence of childbirth fear in an Australian sample of pregnant women. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth.2014;14:275.
- Saisto T, Halmesmäki E. Fear of childbirth: a neglected dilemma. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand.2003;82:201-8.
- Laursen M, Hedegaard M, Johansen C. Fear of childbirth: predictors and temporal changes among nulliparous women in the Danish National Birth Cohort. BJOG. 2008;115:354-60.
- Körükcü Ö, Deliktaş A, Aydın R, Kabukcuoğlu K. Gebelikte psikososyal sağlık durumu ile doğum korkusu arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi. Clin Exp Health Sci.2017;7:159-65.
- Sel G, Barut A, Solak S, Uslu S, Gedik Y, Uzunoğlu S, et al. Gebelerde anksiyeteye etkisi bulunan faktörler. STED.2019;28:334-39.
- Mete S, Çiçek Ö, Aluş Tokat M, Çamlıbel M, Uludağ E. Doğuma Hazırlık Sınıflarının Doğum Korkusu, Doğum Tercihi ve Doğuma Hazır Oluşluğa Etkisi. Turkiye Klinikleri J Nurs Sci. 2017;9:201-6.
Abstract
GİRİŞ ve AMAÇ: Bu çalışmanın amacı, gebelerde doğum korkusu prevalansını belirlemek ve gebelikte doğum korkusuna etki eden faktörleri araştırmaktır
YÖNTEM ve GEREÇLER: Bu kesitsel çalışma Ocak ve Mart 2019 arasında Kırşehir Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum Polikliniği’ne başvuran ve çalışmaya katılmayı kabul eden 150 gebe ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışma, W-DEQ Doğum Korkusu Ölçeği ve araştırmacılar tarafından oluşturulan Genel Bilgi Formu ile yürütülmüştür.
BULGULAR: Tüm grupta, W-DEQ skoruna göre gebelikte doğum korkusu düzeyi 50,97 ± 25,773 olarak elde edilmiştir. Yaş ve gebelik haftası sırasıyla 27,8 ± 6,072 yıl ve 27,16 ± 10,788 hafta olarak bulunmuştur. Çalışmaya katılan gebelerin %18,7’sinde korku varlığı saptanmış (W-DEQ ≥85), gebelik sayısı (p=0,047) ve bebekte doğum sonrasında bir rahatsızlık oluşacağı düşüncesi (p=0,004) korku düzeyini etkileyen faktörler olarak bulunmuştur. Doğum korkusu ile anne yaşı, gebelik haftası ve doğum tipi arasında anlamlı ilişki saptanmamıştır(p>0,05). Gebelik ile ilgili eğitim alma oranı ve doğum süreci ile ilgili sağlık personeline duyulan güven düzeyi düşük bulunmuştur.
TARTIŞMA ve SONUÇ: Gebelik ile ilgili eğitim alma oranı ve doğum süreci ile ilgili sağlık personeline duyulan güven düzeyi birbiri ile ilişkili olabilir, bu nedenle Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum Polikliniği tarafından gebelik süresince oluşacak korkunun azaltılabilmesi ve gebelikle ilgili bilgilerin arttırılması için gerekli eğitimlerin verilmesi önerilmektedir.
Keywords
References
- Demšar K, Svetina M, Verdenik I, Tul N, Blickstein I, Velikonja VG. Tokophobia (fear of childbirth): prevalence and risk factors. J Perinat Med.2018;46:151-54.
- Beiranvand SP, Moghadam ZB, Salsali M, Majd HA, Birjandi M, Khalesi ZB. Prevalence of fear of childbirth and its associated factors in primigravid women: A cross-sectional study. Shiraz E Med J. 2017;18.
- Phunyammalee M, Buayaem T, Boriboonhirunsarn D. Fear of childbirth and associated factors among low-risk pregnant women. J Obstet Gynaecol Res.2019;39:763-67.
- Calderani E, Giardinelli L, Scannerini S, Arcabasso S, Compagno E, Petraglia F, et al.Tocophobia in the DSM-5 era: Outcomes of a new cut-off analysis of the Wijma delivery expectancy/experience questionnaire based on clinical presentation. J Psychosom Res.2019;116:37-43.
- Ayers S. Fear of childbirth, postnatal post-traumatic stress disorder and midwifery care. Midwifery. 2014;30:145–48.
- Haines H, Pallant, JF, Karlström A, Hildingsson, I. Cross-cultural comparison of levels of childbirth-related fear in an Australian and Swedish sample. Midwifery. 2011;27:560-67.
- O'Connell MA, Leahy‐Warren P, Khashan AS, Kenny LC, O'Neill SM. Worldwide prevalence of tocophobia in pregnant women: systematic review and meta‐analysis. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2017;96:907-20.
- Lukasse M, Schei B, Ryding EL. Prevalence and associated factors of fear of childbirth in six European countries. Sex Reprod Healthc. 2014;5:99–106.
- Lowe NK. Self-efficacy for labor and childbirth fears in nulliparous pregnant women. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2000;21:219–24.
- Spice K, Jones SL, Hadjistavropoulos HD, Kowalyk K, Stewart SH. Prenatal fear of childbirth and anxiety sensitivity. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol.2009;30:168-74.
- Matinnia N, Faisal I, Hanafiah Juni M, Herjar A, Moeini B, Osman Z. Fears related to pregnancy and childbirth among primigravidae who requested caesarean versus vaginal delivery in Iran. Matern Child Health J. 2015;19:1121–30.
- O'Connell MA, Leahy‐Warren P, Kenny LC, O'Neill SM, Khashan AS. The prevalence and risk factors of fear of childbirth among pregnant women: A cross‐sectional study in Ireland. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand.2019;98:1014-23.
- Aksoy AN, Ozkan H, Gundogdu G. Fear of childbirth in women with normal pregnancy evolution. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2015;42:179–83.
- Çıtak Bilgin N, Coşkun H, Coşkuner Potur D, İbar Aydın E, Uca E. Psychosocial predictors of the fear of childbirth in Turkish pregnant women. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol.2020;1-9. doi: 10.1080/0167482X.2020.1734791.
- Kaya D, Evcili F. The affecting factors of childbirth fear for pregnant women admitted to a health center and university hospital in Turkey. J. Health Res.2020;34:393-97.
- Wijma K, Wijma B, Zar M. Psychometric aspects of the W-DEQ; a new questionnaire for the measurement of fear of childbirth. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol.1998;19:84-97.
- Korukcu O, Kukulu K, Firat MZ. The reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W‐DEQ) with pregnant women. J. Psychiatr. Ment. Health Nurs 2012;19:193-202.
- Khwepeya M, Lee GT, Chen SR, Kuo SY. Childbirth fear and related factors among pregnant and postpartum women in Malawi. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018;18:391.
- Mazúchová L, Škodová Z, Kelčíková S, Rabárová A. Factors Associated with Childbirth-Related Fear among Slovak Women. Cent. Eur. J. Nurs. Midwifery.2017;8:742-48.
- Mortazavi F, Agah J. Childbirth fear and associated factors in a sample of pregnant Iranian women. Oman Med J.2018;33:497-505.
- Nieminen K, Stephansson O, Ryding EL. Women's fear of childbirth and preference for cesarean section–a cross‐sectional study at various stages of pregnancy in Sweden. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2009;88:807-13.
- Rouhe H, Salmela‐Aro K, Halmesmäki E, Saisto, T. Fear of childbirth according to parity, gestational age, and obstetric history. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.2009;116:67-73.
- Larsson B, Karlström A, Rubertsson C, Hildingsson I. The effects of counseling on fear of childbirth. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2015;94:629-36.
- Adams SS, Eberhard‐Gran M, Eskild A. Fear of childbirth and duration of labour: a study of 2206 women with intended vaginal delivery. BJOG.2012;119:1238-46.
- Toohill J, Fenwick J, Gamble J, Creedy DK. Prevalence of childbirth fear in an Australian sample of pregnant women. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth.2014;14:275.
- Saisto T, Halmesmäki E. Fear of childbirth: a neglected dilemma. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand.2003;82:201-8.
- Laursen M, Hedegaard M, Johansen C. Fear of childbirth: predictors and temporal changes among nulliparous women in the Danish National Birth Cohort. BJOG. 2008;115:354-60.
- Körükcü Ö, Deliktaş A, Aydın R, Kabukcuoğlu K. Gebelikte psikososyal sağlık durumu ile doğum korkusu arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi. Clin Exp Health Sci.2017;7:159-65.
- Sel G, Barut A, Solak S, Uslu S, Gedik Y, Uzunoğlu S, et al. Gebelerde anksiyeteye etkisi bulunan faktörler. STED.2019;28:334-39.
- Mete S, Çiçek Ö, Aluş Tokat M, Çamlıbel M, Uludağ E. Doğuma Hazırlık Sınıflarının Doğum Korkusu, Doğum Tercihi ve Doğuma Hazır Oluşluğa Etkisi. Turkiye Klinikleri J Nurs Sci. 2017;9:201-6.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Clinical Sciences |
| Journal Section | Research Articles |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | April 6, 2021 |
| Submission Date | October 5, 2020 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2021 Volume: 35 Issue: 1 |