Relationship between Intensity of fear of Childbirth with choosing mode of delivery in Primiparous Women

Abstract

Introduction: fear of natural childbirth is a common problem during pregnancy and severe fear of childbirth may have a role in choosing mode of delivery by mother. This study was performed with aim to determine the relationship between fear of childbirth choosing mode of delivery in primiparous women referred to the health centers of Mashhad. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 220 primiparous women with gestational age of 28-30 weeks, who referred to Mashhad health centers in 2015-2016. Data collection tools included demographic questionnaire and Vigima fear of childbirth questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16) and Chi-square test, Fisher exact test, independent t-test, and logistic regression analysis. PResults: There was a significant correlation between intensity of fear of childbirth and choosing mode of delivery (P<0.001), so that there was severe fear of childbirth in 14 cases (14.4%) of women who had selected natural childbirth and 98 (79.7%) of women who had selected caesarean section. Also, mean score of fear of childbirth in women who had selected natural childbirth and cesarean was 50.18 ±18.68 and 70.23 ± 12.48 , respectively that had statistically significant difference (P <0.001), and the most common cause of fear of childbirth was fear of labor pain (45.9%). Conclusion: Given that caesarean rate was higher in women who had severe fear of childbirth than women with moderate fear of childbirth, some interventions are necessary to reduce fear of childbirth in primiparous women.

Keywords

• cesarean section
• childbirth
• fear
• natural childbirth
• primiprous