title: The effects of antenatal education on fear of childbirth, maternal self-efficacy and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following childbirth: an experimental study.
abstract: Fear of birth and low childbirth self-efficacy is predictive of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms following childbirth. The efficacy of antenatal education classes on fear of birth and childbirth self-efficacy has been supported; however, the effectiveness of antenatal classes on post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms after childbirth has received relatively little research attention.
  
  
  
  This study examined the effects of antenatal education on fear of childbirth, maternal self-efficacy and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms following childbirth.
  
  
  
  Quasi-experimental study.
  
  
  
  The study was conducted in a city located in the Middle Anatolia region of Turkey and data were collected between December 2013 and May 2015. Two groups of women were compared-an antenatal education intervention group (n=44), and a routine prenatal care control group (n=46). The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, Version A and B, Childbirth Self-efficacy Inventory and Impact of Event Scale-Revised was used to assess fear of childbirth, maternal self-efficacy and PTSD symptoms following childbirth.
  
  
  
  Compared to the control group, women who attended antenatal education had greater childbirth self-efficacy, greater perceived support and control in birth, and less fear of birth and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms following childbirth (all comparisons, p<0.05).
  
  
  
  Antenatal education appears to alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms after childbirth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Nigde University Nigde Zubeyde Hanım School of Health, 51200 Niğde, Türkiye. Electronic address: gozdegokce@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gözde
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gökçe İsbir
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing(,) Nigde University Nigde Zubeyde Hanım School of Health, 51200 Niğde, Türkiye. Electronic address: figeninci@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: İnci
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing(,) Nigde University Nigde Zubeyde Hanım School of Health, 51200 Niğde, Türkiye. Electronic address: hatonal@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Önal
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, City University London, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Pelin.Dikmen.1@city.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Pelin Dıkmen
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Yıldız
mesh_terms: D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology*; D014421:Turkey
keywords: Antenatal education; Fear of childbirth; Maternal self-efficacy; Post-traumatic stress disorder