Document Type : Original Research Article
Authors
1
a) Assistant Professor, Reproductive Health Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran b) Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
2
a) Midwifery Consultation Masters’ Degree Student, Student Research Center Affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran b) Patient Safety Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, School of Health, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
4
Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, school of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
10.22038/jmrh.2024.72821.2132
Abstract
Background & aim: Fear of childbirth (FOC) is a prevalent issue that affects the outcome of pregnancy. Effective education, especially peer education, is one of the most important factors that can help women to reduce this fear. This study aimed to compare peer-based face-to-face and online education on the FOC.
Methods:This three-armed clinical trial study was carried out on 60 low-risk primigravida pregnant women with a gestational age of 24-32 weeks referring to community health centers in Meshgin Shahr, Ardabil Province, Iran, in 2019. The participants were selected through convenience sampling and then randomly assigned to face-to-face peer education, virtual peer education with WhatsApp messenger, and control groups using block randomization (22 persons in each group). The selected peer groups held five 90-minute training sessions for the participants in the intervention groups for five weeks. Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) was administered to the participants in the three groups to measure FOC before and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16).
Results:The three groups were homogeneous in terms of the demographic and midwifery characteristics. The results showed a significant difference between the mean FOC scores in two intervention groups one month after the intervention (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the mean FOC scores before and after the intervention in the control group (p=0.108).
Conclusion: The findings confirmed that peer-based education, both face-to-face and online, is effective in reducing the FOC and can be used in antenatal care.
Keywords
Main Subjects
)