FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH FEAR OF CHILDBIRTH AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70332/jkp.v3i2.40Keywords:
Fear of Childbirth, pregnancy, parity, maternal anxiety, antenatal educationAbstract
Background: Fear of Childbirth (FoC) is a common psychological concern during pregnancy and may negatively affect maternal health and birth outcomes, including increased blood pressure, prolonged labor, and postpartum depression. FoC is influenced by various demographic, obstetric, and psychosocial factors. Objective: This study aimed to identify factors associated with FoC among pregnant women. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted involving 113 pregnant women across the first to third trimesters. FoC was assessed using the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ), while perceived social support was measured using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, Spearman correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: Bivariate analysis demonstrated that maternal age, household income, and parity status were significantly associated with FoC (p < 0.05). In contrast, education level, occupation, gestational age, and perceived social support showed no significant associations (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that parity status was the most influential factor affecting FoC among pregnant women. Conclusion: Younger women and those with lower parity are more likely to experience FoC, primarily due to limited childbirth experience and uncertainty about labor and infant care. Higher household income was also associated with greater FoC, possibly related to increased exposure to childbirth-related information. Strengthening antenatal education and psychological support is essential to enhance maternal preparedness for childbirth.
References
Albalawi, F. D., Faheem, W. A., Thabet, H., & Daghash, H. (2023). Exploring the Relationship Between Childbirth Expectations and Fear Among Primigravida Women in Saudi Arabia. Cureus, 15(11). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.49337
Ariska, S., & Marfuah, D. (2019). The Description of Problems Correlated to Pregnancy. KnE Life Sciences, 2019(2015), 463–475. https://doi.org/10.18502/kls.v4i13.5278
Astuti, Y. L., & Kao, C.-H. (2022). Penerjemahan dan validasi instrumen takut melahirkan ke dalam bahasa indonesia: W-DEQ Versi A. Journal Of Midwifery Science and Women’s Health, 3(1), 23–31. https://doi.org/10.36082/jmswh.v3i1.814
Badaoui, A., Kassm, S. A., & Naja, W. (2019). Fear and Anxiety Disorders Related to Childbirth: Epidemiological and Therapeutic Issues. Current Psychiatry Reports, 21(4), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1010-7
Dal Moro, A. P. M., Soecki, G., de Fraga, F. S., Petterle, R. R., & Rückl, S. Z. (2023). FoC: prevalence and associated factors in pregnant women of a maternity hospital in southern Brazil. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05948-0
Gelaw , T. , Ketema , T. G. , Beyene , K. , Gurara , M. K. , & Ukke , G. G. (2020). FoC among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Arba Minch town, southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03367-z
Huang, J., Huang, J., Li, Y., & Liao, B. (2021). The prevalence and predictors of FoC among pregnant Chinese women: a hierarchical regression analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 21(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04123-7
Julianti, P. A., Marfuah, D., Mutiar, A., & Purnama, H. (2023a). Edu Dharma Journal : Jurnal FoC pada Ibu Hamil Beresiko. 07(02), 122–133.
Julianti, P. A., Marfuah, D., Mutiar, A., & Purnama, H. (2023b). FoC pada Ibu Hamil Beresiko. Edu Dharma Journal: Jurnal Penelitian Dan Pengabdian Masyarakat, 7(2), 122. https://doi.org/10.52031/edj.v7i2.608
Kananikandeh, S., Amin Shokravi, F., Mirghafourvand, M., & Jahanfar, S. (2022). Factors of the childbirth fear among nulliparous women in Iran. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 22(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04870-1
Kang, H. (2021). Sample size determination and power analysis using the G*Power software. Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions, 18, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3352/JEEHP.2021.18.17
Marcelina, L. A., Rachmawati, I. N., & Ungsianik, T. (2019). Dissatisfaction with the husband support increases childbirth fear among Indonesian primigravida. Clinical Nursing, 29(Insc 2018), 379–383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2019.04.047
Marfuah, D., & Ayakannu, R. (2025). THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND FOC WITH QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN. 1(1).
Marfuah, D., Rahman, A. S., Mutiar, A., & Anggraini, D. (2024). Dominan Factors Related To Physical Activity in Pregnant Women. Edu Dharma Journal: Jurnal Penelitian Dan Pengabdian Masyarakat, 8(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.52031/edj.v8i1.738
Massae, A. F., Larsson, M., Leshabari, S., Mbekenga, C., Pembe, A. B., & Svanberg, A. S. (2021). Predictors of FoC and depressive symptoms among pregnant women: a cross-sectional survey in Pwani region, Tanzania. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 21(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04169-7
Onchonga, D. (2021). Prenatal FoC among pregnant women and their spouses in Kenya. Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, 27(January), 100593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2020.100593
Serçekuş, P., Vardar, O., & Özkan, S. (2020). FoC among pregnant women and their partners in Turkey. Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, 24(November 2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2020.100501
Tristanti, I., & Nurwati, I. (2022). Psychoeducation on pregnancy anxiety.Indonesian Journal of Midwifery, 6(2), 45–51.
Zhou, X. L., Liu, H., Li, X. H., Li, F., Zhang, S. M., & Zhang, S. R. (2021). Mediating effects of social support between antenatal depression and FoC among nulliparous woman. Annals of Palliative Medicine, 10(6), 6399–6409. https://doi.org/10.21037/apm-21-854
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Jurnal Keperawatan PPNI Jawa Barat
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
