The Relationship Between the Fear of Natural Childbirth and Self-Efficacy in Afghan Refugee Primigravida Women

Rezaei, Fateme; Mohammadi, Maryam; Sabouri, Samaneh; Tehrani, Hadi

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The Relationship Between the Fear of Natural Childbirth and Self-Efficacy in Afghan Refugee Primigravida Women

Fateme Rezaei

, Maryam Mohammadi

, Samaneh Sabouri

, Hadi Tehrani ^*

Abstract: (41 Views)

Background and Objectives: Childbirth is a unique experience marked by both joy and pain. Researchers frequently describe it as particularly painful, especially for primigravida women, who report higher levels of pain compared to multiparous women. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between fear of natural childbirth and self-efficacy among Afghan refugee primigravida women.

Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 214 Afghan refugee primigravida women in Mashhad using multi-stage cluster sampling in Mashhad in 1403. To collect data, a demographic questionnaire, the Harman standard Childbirth Attitude Questionnaire, and the standard questionnaire on The Childbirth self -efficacy inventory were used. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27 statistical software, and a significance level of 0.05 was considered. First, the normality of the data was checked, and if normality was found, parametric t-test and ANOVA tests were used, and if the assumption of normality was not established, nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and Spearman tests were used.

Results: The mean score for fear of childbirth was 40.57 ± 6.73, with 95.8% of participants reporting significant fear. A significant difference (p=0.03) was observed between the spouse's occupation and fear of childbirth. The mean score for total self-efficacy was 214.76 ± 46.56, indicating a statistically significant inverse correlation (r=-0.21) between fear of childbirth and total self-efficacy.

Conclusion: This study established a relationship between self-efficacy and fear of childbirth. It is recommended that strategies to enhance self-efficacy, including targeted educational interventions, be implemented to help reduce fear of childbirth among pregnant women.

Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Keywords: Fear of Childbirth, Self-efficacy, Primigravida, Refugee Women, Health Promotion

Type of Study: Research | Subject: Health Education & Health Promotion
Received: 2025/04/25 | Accepted: 2025/08/16

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