title: Childbirth fear in expectant fathers: findings from a regional Swedish cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to investigate the prevalence of childbirth related fear in Swedish fathers and associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  a regional cohort study. Data was collected by a questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  three hospitals in the middle-north part of Sweden
  
  
  METHODS
  1047 expectant fathers recruited in mid-pregnancy during one year (2007) who completed the Fear of Birth Scale (FOBS).
  
  
  METHODS
  prevalence of childbirth fear and associated factors. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated between men who scored 50 and above (childbirth fear) and those that did not (no fear). Logistic regression analysis was used to assess which factors contributed most to childbirth fear in fathers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the prevalence of childbirth fear in men was 13.6%. Factors associated with childbirth related fear were as follows: Less positive feelings about the approaching birth (OR 3.4; 2.2-5.2), country of birth other than Sweden (OR 2.8; 1.3-6.1), a preference for a caesarean birth (OR 2.1; 1.7-4.1), childbirth thoughts in mid-pregnancy (OR 1.9; 1.1-2.0) and expecting the first baby (OR 1.8; 1.2-2.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  high levels of fear were associated with first time fathers and being a non-native to Sweden. Men with fear were more likely to experience pregnancy and the coming birth as a negative event. These men were also more likely to identify caesarean section as their preferred mode of birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  engaging expectant fathers in antenatal conversations about their experiences of pregnancy and feelings about birth provides health-care professionals with an opportunity to address childbirth fear, share relevant information and promote birth as a normal but significant life event.
authors: Mid Sweden University, Department of Health Science, Sundsvall, Sweden; Uppsala University, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: ingeegerd.hildingsson@miun.se.
authors: Ingegerd
authors: I
authors: Hildingsson
authors: Mid Sweden University, Department of Health Science, Sundsvall, Sweden; Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet So¨dersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Margareta
authors: M
authors: Johansson
authors: Griffith University, Gold Coast Hospital, Australia.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Fenwick
authors: Uppsala University, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala, Sweden; Rural Health Academic Centre, Melbourne University, Australia.
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Haines
authors: Uppsala University, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Rubertsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005220:Fathers; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D018743:Perinatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Childbirth; Fathers; Fear