Fears associated with childbirth among nulliparous women in Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
to describe fears associated with childbirth and reasons for the fears.


METHODS
a qualitative study. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analysed using content-analysis method.


METHODS
outpatient maternity clinic of a university hospital in Turkey.


METHODS
19 nulliparous pregnant women who stated that they had fear related to childbirth.


RESULTS
women's fears were related to labour pain, birth-related problems and procedures, attitudes of health-care personnel and sexuality. The reasons for their fears included type and quality of childbirth information, personal characteristics and experiences, maternity ward environment and lack of confidence in health-care personnel. Seven of the women were considering an elective caesarean section. The role of husbands in the childbirth experience was not mentioned by any participants. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTISE: women experience considerable fear related to impending childbirth. Considering the potential for negative findings caused by fear, and the likelihood of requesting a caesarean section, it is important for health professionals who provide antenatal care to explore fears related to childbirth. The development and evaluation of formal childbirth education is also recommended.
Serçekuş
Pinar
P
Dokuz Eylül University School of Nursing, Mithatpaba Street, Ynciraltý, YZMYR 35340 Turkey. pinarsercekus@hotmail.com
Okumuş
Hülya
H
D000328:Adult; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology*; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult