Fear of Childbirth among Pregnant Women in a Hospital, Kathmandu

Abstract

Introduction: Fear of childbirth is a significant concern that can affect a woman’s health, well-being, and relationships during and after pregnancy. It can lead to distress for the woman and her family, as well as increase the risk of complications during childbirth. So, this study aims to assess the level of fear of child birth and identify associated factors among pregnant women in the hospital of Kathmandu.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted enrolling 418 pregnant women attending outpatient department of Paropakar Maternity and women’s Hospital. Participants were selected using a Purposive sampling technique. Ethical approval was obtained prior to the study from Institutional Review Committee of Paropakar Maternity and women’s Hospital. Data was collected through a structured interview questionnaire from an extensive literature review. The collected data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23, with both descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistical significance was determined at a p-value <0.05with a 95% confidence level in bivariate analysis.

Results: More than half of the respondents (56.7%) reported high fear of childbirth, while 43.3% reported low fear. Several factors were significantly associated with higher fear of childbirth. Maternal age above 27 years were associated with higher fear (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.41-0.89, p = 0.01). Women who were homemakers (OR = 3.05, 95% CI: 1.22-7.74, p = 0.017), engaged in business (OR = 4.68, 95% CI: 1.66-13.21, p = 0.003) and those in their first trimester (OR = 3.35, 95% CI: 1.21-9.33, p = 0.02) were more likely to experience high fear of childbirth.

Conclusion: The study found that more than half of pregnant women reported high fear of childbirth and less than half had low fear. Factors significantly linked to this fear included maternal age, being a home maker, engaging in business and being in first trimester. Addressing this fear through targeted educational programs and counseling during early pregnancy is essential for improving maternal well-being and potentially reducing obstetric complications.