The effects of counseling on fear of childbirth. (30th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Larsson, Birgitta; Karlström, Annika; Rubertsson, Christine; Hildingsson, Ingegerd
• Is Part Of: Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica. Volume 94:Number 6(2015)
• Page Start: 629
• Page End: 636
• Publication Date: 2015-03-30
• Subjects: Gynecology -- Periodicals; Pregnancy -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; 618.05
• DOI: 10.1111/aogs.12634
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-6349

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="aogs12634-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="aogs12634-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To investigate women's experiences of attending existing counseling programs for childbirth‐related fear and the effect of this counseling over time.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12634-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>A longitudinal survey.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12634-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Setting</title> <p>Three hospitals in the central north of Sweden.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12634-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Sample</title> <p>A selected sample of 936 women. Of these, 70 received counseling due to fear of childbirth (study‐group).</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12634-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Data were collected with questionnaires 2 months and 1 year after giving birth with background data collected during midpregnancy. Comparisons were made between women with or without counseling. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12634-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Main outcome measures</title> <p>Self‐reported childbirth fear, experience of counseling, birth experience and preferred mode of birth.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12634-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Women in the counseling group reported higher childbirth fear 1 year after giving birth (OR 5.0, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.6–9.3), they had a more negative birth experience that did not change over time (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.9) and they preferred cesarean section to a greater extent (OR 12.0, 95% CI 5.1–28.1) in the case of another birth. Also, they were more often delivered by planned cesarean section (OR 4.7, 95% CI 2.4–9.1). However, 80% were satisfied with the given support.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12634-sec-0008" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Although women were satisfied with the treatment, this study shows that counseling had a minor effect on fear of childbirth, birth experiences or cesarean section rates. To help women with their fear of childbirth, more effective methods of treatment are needed.</p> </sec> </abstract>