Trends in the epidemiology of fear of childbirth and association with intended mode of delivery: A nationwide register‐based cohort study in Finland

• Published in: Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica 2023-04, Vol.102 (4), p.430-437
• Main Authors: Vaajala, Matias, Liukkonen, Rasmus, Kuitunen, Ilari, Ponkilainen, Ville, Mattila, Ville M., Kekki, Maiju
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cesarean Section; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; delivery; Delivery, Obstetric; Diabetes, Gestational; Epidemiology; Fear; fear of childbirth; Female; Finland; Gestational diabetes; Humans; Medical diagnosis; Original; Parturition; Pregnancy; Regression analysis; Risk factors; Womens health
• ISSN: 0001-6349; 1600-0412
• DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14521

Introduction Fear of childbirth (FOC) is a common obstetrical challenge that affects the health of women. The epidemiology of FOC has not been studied in Finland for the last decade. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiology and risk factors for FOC and to evaluate the association between FOC and the rate of elective cesarean section (CS) as an intended mode of delivery. Material and methods Data from the National Medical Birth Register were used to evaluate the epidemiology of FOC and to determine the main risk factors for FOC in Finland between 2004 and 2018. Nulliparous and multiparous women were analyzed separately. Logistic regression model was used to determine the main risk factors for FOC. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the intended mode of delivery in those pregnancies with diagnosed maternal FOC. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results A total of 1 million pregnancies were included. The annual rate of pregnancies with maternal FOC increased from 1.5% (CI: 1.4–1.6) in 2004 to 9.1% (CI: 8.7–9.3) in 2018 for all women. For nulliparous women, the rate increased from 1.1% (CI: 1.0–1.3) in 2004 to 7.1% (CI: 6.7–7.5) in 2018, and from 1.8% (CI: 1.7–2.0) in 2004 to 10.3% (10.0–10.7) in 2018 for multiparous women. The strongest risk factors for maternal FOC were higher maternal age and gestational diabetes. For multiparous women, the strongest risk factors were gestational diabetes and previous CS. The total odds for elective CS were notably higher among women with FOC (aOR 8.63, CI: 8.39–8.88). Conclusions The incidence of maternal FOC rose six‐fold during our study period. However, the numbers of elective CS among women with this diagnosis, which had earlier risen in parallel, leveled off in 2014. The rates of diagnosed maternal fear of birth increased radically during year 2004–2018. Moreover, even though the numbers and rates of women with fear of birth diagnoses increased, the rates for elective cesarean section among women with fear of birth diagnosis decreased strongly during the study period.