effect of childbirth preparation classes on childbirth fear and normal delivery among primiparous women

ABSTRACT

There has been an increase in the number of women willing to have a caesarean birth because of their fear of childbirth. It seems the childbirth preparation educational class is a good way to remove or alleviate fears associated with pregnancy and childbirth.This research designed to identify the effect of childbirth preparation classes on childbirth fear on the primiparous women. The present study is a clinical trial which was carried out in 2007 at Milad Hospital, with 100 nulliparous pregnant women. Childbirth fear was measured by childbirth attitudes questionnaire. Normal pregnant women in the second trimester with childbirth fear score was 28 or more were randomly selected and dirided into experimental and control group with 50 subject in each qroup. The experimental group attended nine childbirth preparation class sessions and control group received routine antennal care. The mean scored fear of childbirth in case and control group were 39.35 +/- 6.96 and 40.71 +/- 6.23 respectively. There was not significant difference between two groups. After the sessions, comparing childbirth fear score between two groups in third trimester showed the mean score of childbirth fear among experimental group was lower than control group [29.82 +/- 7.18 compare to 38.03 +/- 9.27], and the differences statistically was significant [p < 0.001]. Mode of delivery was significantly different between the two groups. Primiparous women attended childbirth preparation classes acquired lower score of childbirth fear in compare to women received routine prenatal care. The results of this research showed relaxation training decreased childbirth fear and increased normal vaginal delivery