The relationship between fear of childbirth and birth self-efficacy in low and high-risk pregnant women

Çiçek Ö., Aypar Akbağ N. N., Durmazoğlu G., Öztürk Ç.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol.25, no.1, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 25 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1186/s12884-025-08354-w
  • Journal Name: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Keywords: Fear of childbirth, Childbirth self-efficacy, Low-risky pregnancy, high-risky pregnancy
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background: Fear of childbirth (FOC) is the most important feeling pregnant women experience about childbirth. It is also known that the fear of childbirth is affected by many factors. This study investigated the relationship between Fear of childbirth (FOC) and childbirth self-efficacy in low and high-risk pregnant women. Methods: The research was designed in descriptive and correlational type. This study among 115 low-risk and 135 high-risk pregnant women who were recorded using a purposeful sampling. Results: The total W-DEQ-A values of high-risk pregnant women are substantially higher. It was determined that both groups had a moderate FOC. The W-DEQ-A and CBSEI-32 mean scores of low-risk pregnant women were significantly related. Their mean W-DEQ-A scores were negatively correlated with outcome expectancy sub-dimension (OE) scores and positively correlated with self-efficacy expectancy sub-dimension (EE) values. Conclusion: This is the first study to examine the relationship between FOC and childbirth self-efficacy in low and high-risk pregnant women. It is recommended that health professionals evaluate all pregnant women in terms of FOC and their childbirth self-efficacy for vaginal delivery.