Childbirth fear in Swedish fathers is associated with parental stress as well as poor physical and mental health.
OBJECTIVE
to compare self-rated health and perceived difficulties during pregnancy as well as antenatal attendance, birth experience and parental stress in fathers with and without childbirth related fear.


METHODS
a longitudinal regional survey. Data were collected by three questionnaires.


METHODS
three hospitals in the middle-north part of Sweden.


METHODS
1047 expectant fathers recruited in mid-pregnancy and followed up at two months and one year after birth.


METHODS
childbirth fear was assessed using the Fear of Birth Scale (FOBS). Self-rated physical and mental health and perceived difficulties were assessed in mid pregnancy. Two months after birth antenatal attendance, mode of birth and the birth experience were investigated. Parental stress was measured using the Swedish Parental Stress Questionnaire (SPSQ). Crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated between expectant fathers who scored 50 and above (childbirth fear) and those that did not (no fear).


RESULTS
expectant fathers with childbirth related fear (13.6%) reported poorer physical (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.2-2.8) and mental (OR 3.0; 1.8-5.1) health than their non-fearful counterparts. The fearful fathers were more likely to perceive difficulties in pregnancy (OR 2.1; 1.4-3.0), and the forthcoming birth (OR 4.3; 2.9-6.3) compared to fathers without childbirth fear. First-time fathers with fear attended fewer antenatal classes. Fathers with high fear reported higher mean scores in four of the five subscales of the SPSQ. Childbirth related fear was not associated with mode of birth or fathers' birth experience.


CONCLUSIONS
expectant fathers with childbirth related fear had poorer health, viewed the pregnancy, birth and the forthcoming parenthood with more difficulties. They were less often present during antenatal classes and had higher parental stress.


CONCLUSIONS
this study provides insight into the health of expectant fathers during pregnancy and highlights the importance of understanding how childbirth fear may affect expectant fathers in both the short and longer term.
Mid Sweden University, Department of Nursing, Holmgatan 10, SE-85170 Sundsvall, Sweden; Uppsala University, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala, Sweden; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Sweden. Electronic address: ingeegerd.hildingsson@miun.se.
Ingegerd
I
Hildingsson
Uppsala University, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala, Sweden; Melbourne Medical School, Rural Health Academic Centre, The University of Melbourne, Australia; Northeast Health Wangaratta, Education and Research Unit, Australia.
Helen
H
Haines
Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
Margareta
M
Johansson
Uppsala University, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala, Sweden.
Christine
C
Rubertsson
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Maternity and Family, Centre for Health Practice Innovation (HPI), Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Australia.
Jennifer
J
Fenwick
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005220:Fathers; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D018743:Perinatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
Childbirth related fear; Fathers; Parental stress; Self-rated health