Fear of labour
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Ascargorta Eriz L et ál. Miedo al parto. Metas de Enferm may 2011; 14(4): 20-25
Authors
1Leire Ascargorta Eriz, 2Beatriz Carro Balboa, 3Mayca Fuertes Hinarejos, 4Ester Montava Pascual
Position
1Matrona del Hospital de "Cruces", Barakaldo. 2Matrona del Hospital "El Bierzo", Ponferrada. 3Matrona del Hospital "La Fe", Valencia. Profesora de la Unidad Docente de Matronas de Valencia. 4Matrona del Hospital "Verge dels Lliris", Alcoy.
Contact address
Leire Ascargorta Eriz. Plaza San Trokaz, 6, bajo B. 48220 Abadiano (Vizcaya).
Contact email: leiretxikitxo@hotmail.com
Abstract
Objective: to analyse the current situation of labour fear in pregnant women in the Community of Valencia.
Material and method: cross-sectional, descriptive study performed in Primary Care Centres of Health Departments number 4, 5 and 14 of the Community of Valencia (december 2007-september 2008) in 208 pregnant women born in Spain (nulliparous females and primiparous females in their second pregnancy, after week 28 of gestation) who did not attend the group-based Maternal Education courses. Data collection was performed using the “Fear of Labour” survey. Sociodemographic and obstetric variables were also studied. Pearson’s chi2 test was used for the bivariate analysis.
Results: 208 pregnant women were studied. 69,7% reported “being afraid that the child might get hurt or die during labour” and 56,2% “fear that the child will be born with a malformation”. 95% believed that the presence of a family member would alleviate their anxiety. 53% presented excessive fear of labour. No differences by sex or parity were observed.
Conclusions: the greatest fear of pregnant women revolves around her future child, fears related with the pregnant women themselves becoming secondary. Advances made at a technical level and improvements in healthcare delivery have not created any changes in the fear of labour. In the case of women with an excessive fear of labour, the midwife is essential both in the detection and in the support provided to the pregnant women in order to reduce the risk of a negative experience of labour.
Material and method: cross-sectional, descriptive study performed in Primary Care Centres of Health Departments number 4, 5 and 14 of the Community of Valencia (december 2007-september 2008) in 208 pregnant women born in Spain (nulliparous females and primiparous females in their second pregnancy, after week 28 of gestation) who did not attend the group-based Maternal Education courses. Data collection was performed using the “Fear of Labour” survey. Sociodemographic and obstetric variables were also studied. Pearson’s chi2 test was used for the bivariate analysis.
Results: 208 pregnant women were studied. 69,7% reported “being afraid that the child might get hurt or die during labour” and 56,2% “fear that the child will be born with a malformation”. 95% believed that the presence of a family member would alleviate their anxiety. 53% presented excessive fear of labour. No differences by sex or parity were observed.
Conclusions: the greatest fear of pregnant women revolves around her future child, fears related with the pregnant women themselves becoming secondary. Advances made at a technical level and improvements in healthcare delivery have not created any changes in the fear of labour. In the case of women with an excessive fear of labour, the midwife is essential both in the detection and in the support provided to the pregnant women in order to reduce the risk of a negative experience of labour.
Keywords:
anxiety; caesarean section; fear; labour; pregnancy; primiparous; research; second gestationwoman
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