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

## TL;DR

This study explores how fear of childbirth and confidence in giving birth are related in low and high-risk pregnant women.

## Contribution

It is the first study to examine the relationship between fear of childbirth and childbirth self-efficacy in low and high-risk pregnant women.

## Key findings

- High-risk pregnant women had higher fear of childbirth scores than low-risk women.
- Low-risk women's fear of childbirth scores were significantly related to childbirth self-efficacy scores.
- Fear of childbirth scores were negatively correlated with outcome expectancy and positively correlated with self-efficacy expectancy.

## Abstract

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.

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.

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.

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.