title: Self-efficacy beliefs and fear of childbirth in nulliparous women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore how childbirth self-efficacy, i.e. outcome expectancy and efficacy expectancy, was associated with fear of childbirth (FOC) and how efficacy expectancy and FOC, respectively were related to socio-demographic characteristics, mental problems and preference for a caesarean section.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, a consecutive sample of 1000 pregnant nulliparous women was sent the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire and Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory. Statistical analyses were performed on data from 423 women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Outcome expectancy and efficacy expectancy correlated significantly and positively, FOC correlated significantly and negatively with both outcome expectancy and efficacy expectancy. Women with severe FOC (20.8%) had a significantly lower level of education (p = 0.001), and had more often sought help because of mental problems (p = 0.004). They were more likely to have low-efficacy expectancy (p < 0.001) and to prefer a caesarean section instead of a vaginal birth (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower efficacy expectancy was associated with higher FOC while preference for a caesarean section was not. Improvement of self-efficacy could be a part of care for women with FOC during pregnancy; however, it would not be enough for fearful women who wish to have a caesarean section.
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. birgitta.salomonsson@liu.se
authors: Birgitta
authors: B
authors: Salomonsson
authors: Mats T
authors: MT
authors: Gullberg
authors: Siw
authors: S
authors: Alehagen
authors: Klaas
authors: K
authors: Wijma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010298:Parity; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires