The relationship between fear of birth and prenatal attachment and childbirth self-efficacy perception in Primigravida women
Buse Gürsoy, Pelin Palas Karaca
Abstract
Fear of childbirth is a common psychological problem. This fear negatively affects prenatal attachment, childbirth-related self-efficacy, the postpartum period, parenting development and women’s health. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between fear of birth and prenatal attachment and childbirth self-efficacy perception in primigravid women. A descriptive and correlational design was used. The study was conducted with 255 primigravida women who applied to the Gynecology and Obstetrics Polyclinic of a hospital in the Marmara Region of Türkiye between December 2021 and October 2022 and agreed to participate in the study. The study data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version A (W-DEQ-A), Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI), and Self-Efficacy regarding Vaginal Birth Scale (SEVB). Descriptive, comparative, and linear regression analyses were performed. The mean age of the participants was 27.29 ± 6.82. The mean score of primigravida women in total W-DEQ-A was 58.45 ± 22.59, the mean score in total PAI was 65.05 ± 10.83, and the mean score in total SEVB was 64.55 ± 14.10. It was observed that as the fear of birth increased in primigravida women, their prenatal attachment (r=-0.369, p < 0.001) and childbirth self-efficacy perception (r=-0.473, p < 0.001) levels decreased. There was a significant relationship between W-DEQ-A and PBI and SEVB scores, which explained 25% (R2 = 0.254) of the variance (p < 0.001). The study found that fear of childbirth was high in primigravida women who were not working, planned to have a cesarean section, and were not ready to give birth. It was determined that this fear affected prenatal attachment and vaginal birth self-efficacy. Health professionals should be screen primigravida women for fear of childbirth and be aware that fear of childbirth negatively affects prenatal attachment and vaginal birth self-efficacy.