Effect of antenatal class attendance on fear of childbirth and antenatal stress

• Published in: Revista de saúde pública 2023-01, Vol.57 (1), p.18-18
• Main Authors: Yörük, Selda, Acikgoz, Ayla
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brazil; Fear; Female; Health Policy & Services; Humans; Original; Parturition; Pregnancy; Pregnant Women; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0034-8910; 1518-8787; 1518-8787
• DOI: 10.11606/s1518-8787.2023057004272

To assess the effect of attending antenatal classes on fear of childbirth and antenatal stress in nulliparous pregnant women. A total of 133 nulliparous pregnant women participated in the study, which had a quasi-experimental design. Data were collected by a descriptive data form, the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, and the Antenatal Perceived Stress Inventory (APSI). A significant correlation was found between antenatal class attendance and having a high schooling level and an intended pregnancy (p < 0.05). The mean fear of childbirth score of pregnant women was 85.50 ± 19.41 before the training and 76.32 ± 20.52 after the training, and the difference between these scores was significant (p < 0.01). Fear of childbirth score were not significantly different between the intervention group and the control group. The mean APSI score of pregnant women in the intervention group was 22.32 ± 6.12 before the training and 21.79 ± 5.97 after the training. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.70). The fear of childbirth score decreased significantly in the intervention group after the training.