The prevalence and risk factors of fear of childbirth among pregnant women: A cross‐sectional study in Ireland

Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica - Tập 98 Số 8 - Trang 1014-1023 - 2019
Maeve O’Connell1, Patricia Leahy‐Warren2, Louise C. Kenny3, Sinéad M. O’Neill4, Ali S. Khashan1
1The Irish Center for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT Center) University College Cork Cork Ireland
2School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
3Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
4Health Technology Assessment Directorate Health Information and Quality Authority Cork Ireland

Tóm tắt

AbstractIntroductionThere is growing evidence of the considerable impact of fear of childbirth on women's health and well‐being, but prevalence reports of high and severe fear of childbirth and reported risk factors have been inconsistent in various studies. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of high and severe fear of childbirth, and to identify risk factors of childbirth fear.Material and methodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of 882 pregnant women attending antenatal care in Cork, Ireland. Fear of childbirth was assessed using the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire version A (W‐DEQ A) using a cut‐off ≥66 to define high fear and ≥85 to define severe fear. Associated risk factors were investigated using univariate and multivariate multinomial logistic regression analyses. Four W‐DEQ A subscales were calculated using a cut‐off ≥2.5 to determine the nature of childbirth fear.ResultsOverall prevalence of severe fear of childbirth was 5.3% and high fear of childbirth was 36.7%. The prevalence of severe fear of childbirth was 7.4% in nulliparous women and 4.3% in multiparous women; however, the difference was not statistically significant (P < 0.07). The prevalence of high fear of childbirth was 43% in nulliparous women and 33.6% in multiparous women, and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.005). High fear of childbirth was associated with single marital status when compared with married or co‐habiting women (P < 0.008). In a multivariate analysis, high fear of childbirth was significantly associated with low perceived informational support (adjusted relative risk ratio 2.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34‐5.13) and possible depression (assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) (adjusted relative risk ratio 12.87, 95% CI 6.07‐27.25). In the W‐DEQ A subscales, 35.6% of women scored ≥2.5 in Negative Emotions, 29.4% scored ≥2.5 in Lack of Positive Emotions, 9.9% scored ≥2.5 in Social Isolation and 7.8% scored ≥2.5 in Moment of Birth.ConclusionsFear of childbirth is relatively common, with varying severity, and was more common in first‐time mothers. Using W‐DEQ A subscales provided additional information about the nature of the fear, in addition to severity of fear of childbirth.

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Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica

Tập 98 Số 8

1014-1023

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