6533b828fe1ef96bd1288dce

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Fear of childbirth according to parity, gestational age, and obstetric history.

subject

description

Objective  To examine fear of childbirth according to parity, gestational age, and obstetric history. Design  A questionnaire study. Population and setting  1400 unselected pregnant women in outpatient maternity clinics of a university central hospital. Methods  Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) and preferred mode of delivery. Main outcome measures  W-DEQ and VAS scores according to parity, gestational age, obstetric history, and preferred mode of delivery. Results  The W-DEQ and VAS scores were higher in nulliparous (W-DEQ 72.0 ± 20.0 [mean ± SD] and VAS 4.7 [median]) than parous women (65.4 ± 21.9; 3.2, P < 0.001 for both W-DEQ and VAS). Higher W-DEQ and VAS scores were found for those beyond 21 weeks of gestation compared with those before (W-DEQ 71.6 ± 23.0 versus 66.6 ± 20.0, P < 0.001; VAS 4.7 versus 3.2, P < 0.001). Caesarean section was preferred mode of delivery for 8.1% and these women scored higher on fear (W-DEQ 87.6 ± 26.5, VAS median 7.0) than those who preferred vaginal delivery (W-DEQ 61.8 ± 18.7, VAS 2.7, P < 0.001, respectively). Those with a previous caesarean scored higher on fear (W-DEQ 73.2 ± 23.5, VAS 5.1) than parous women without previous caesarean (W-DEQ 63.3 ± 20.8, VAS 2.9, P < 0.001, respectively). Those with a history of a vacuum extraction (VE) (W-DEQ 70.6 ± 19.7, VAS 5.0) had higher fear scores than those without (W-DEQ 64.8 ± 22.0, P < 0.05 and VAS 3.0, P < 0.001). Conclusion  Severe fear of childbirth was more common in nulliparous women, in later pregnancy, and in women with previous caesarean section or VE. Caesarean section as a preferred mode of childbirth was strongly associated with high score in both W-DEQ and VAS.