Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effect of fear of labor on the level of prenatal attachment and the factors affecting it.
Material and Methods: This descriptive and relational study was performed with 299 pregnant women who were 28-38 weeks and who came for routine checkups to Erzurum Nenehatun Maternity Hospital from June to December 2016. Data were collected from a questionnaire form, the A version of WIJMA birth expectancy/experience scale, and the prenatal attachment scale.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the WIJMA birth expectancy/experience scale and the fear of giving birth (p<0.05). The difference between the number of pregnancies, number of abortions, and the fear of labor pain and mean scores of prenatal bonding scale was statistically significant (p<0.05). A total of 33.1% of the pregnant women were found to have a severe and clinical fear of labor. It was determined that they had a mean score of 54.12±23.68 on the WIJMA birth expectancy/experience scale, and their mean prenatal attachment score was 39.10±9.65. A very weak positive correlation was found between the average scores of these scales.
Conclusion: As the fear of labor increased, the prenatal bonding levels also increased. It was determined that women who received prenatal care were not afraid of labor pain, did not find labor difficult, and had less fear of childbirth. In line with the results of this study, it is recommended that pregnant women receive pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal education by attending prenatal education classes.
Cite this article as: Gürol A, Ejder Apay S, Sönmez T. Effects of the Labour Fear on the Prenatal Attachment and Determination of the Affecting Factors. Arc Health Sci Res 2020; 7(2): 137-45.