Document Type : Original Research Article
Authors
1
Assistant Professor of Health Sciences, Non-Communicable Pediatric Disease Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
2
PhD of Reproductive Health, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
3
Assistant Professor, Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
4
Lecturer and Researcher in Health and Social Care and Public Health. Faculty of Education and Society, Department of Health and Social Care, University of Sunderland in London, London, United Kingdom
5
MSc in Midwifery, Mehregan Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
6
Lecturer of Midwifery, Department of Midwifery, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
7
a) Professor of Statistics, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran b) Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
8
a) Professor of Psychology, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran b) Department of General Course, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
10.22038/jmrh.2024.75434.2219
Abstract
Background & aim: Fear of Childbirth (FOC) can be seen as an anxiety disorder or as a phobia that women experience in relation to pregnancy and childbirth. We conducted this study to compare the intensity of labor pain with the FOC in multiparous and primiparous women.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling on 432 pregnant women in Babol, Iran, between 2018 and 2019. All pregnant women completed the demographic and FOC questionnaires, as well as labor pain intensity, four times measured using a visual analog scale (VAS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 software and descriptive and analytical indices.
Results: FOC in primiparous women was significantly higher than in multiparous mothers (MD: 12.08<0.001, P). The multivariate linear regression test showed that after adjusting the intervening and obstetric variables, in terms of the intensity of pain in the active phase of labor (MD: 0.07; CI 95% -0.32, 0.47; P=0.71) and the expulsion of the fetus (MD: 0.02; CI 95% -0.38, 0.44; P=0.89), there was no statistically significant difference between primiparous and multiparous women. However, a statistically significant difference was found in placental discharge (MD: 0.52; CI 95% 0.01, 1.02; P = 0.043).
Conclusion: FOC in primiparous women was significantly higher than that of multiparous women after adjusting the intervening variables. The results of this study provide basic information for policy makers to pay more attention to reducing the fear of childbirth, especially in primiparous women.
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