A Study to Assess Childbirth Related Fear and Associated Factors among Third Trimester Primigravida Mothers Visiting Antenatal Clinic in a Selected Hospital of Mangalore

The most important period for a woman is her growth into parenthood. Becoming a mother is an important stage in every woman's life. Childbirth is a natural, normal and a life changing event. It usually begins spontaneously about 280 days after conception Tokophobia or fear of childbirth has become a modern day epidemic amongst pregnant women .It affects at least one in every ten women. A variable number of 20% to 78% of pregnant women report fear associated with pregnancy and childbirth. However 13% of non-gravida women report fear of childbirth to postpone or avoid pregnancy. Though pregnancy is a wonderful and joyful event in most women's life, many women have emotional disturbances because of the physical change in them and the process of childbirth .Fear is a distressing emotion induced by a perceived threat and is one thing that has been a common threat throughout the first pregnancy period. Tokophobia can be caused by various different factors including fear of pain, past experience of a difficult childbirth, depression and even sexual trauma. Nurses play an important role to identify the level of fear and find out the associated factors to help mothers to overcome fear.

Aim:

The aim of the study is to assess the childbirth related fear and associated factors among third trimester primigravida mothers visiting antenatal clinic in a selected hospital of Mangalore.

Objectives of the Study:

1. To determine the level of childbirth related fear among third trimester primigravida mothers visiting antenatal clinics.

2. To determine associated factors responsible for childbirth related fear among third trimester primigravida mothers visiting antenatal clinics.

3. To find the relationship between the childbirth related fear and associated factors among third trimester primigravida mothers visiting antenatal clinics.

4. To find the association of childbirth related fear level and the selected demographic variables.

5. To find the association of the associated factors responsible for childbirth related fear and the selected demographic variables.

Method: The research approach used for the study was descriptive survey approach. The samples were selected by the nonprobability, purposive sampling technique. The study was conducted in Lady Goshen Government hospital, Mangalore from 1.10.2013 to 31.10.13. The data was collected by using demographic proforma, fear rating scale&check list. The data collected was analyzed to achieve the objectives of the study and to test the research hypotheses using the descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Analysis of childbirth related fear revealed that the highest percentage (98%) of the third trimester primigravida mothers had 'extreme fear' on childbirth, and (2%) of them had 'moderate fear'. Majority (95%) of sample had 'unfavourable influence' of associated factors and (5%) had 'favourable influence'. There was positive correlation (0.30) found between childbirth related fear level and associated factors among third trimester primigravida mothers at 0.05 level of significance. A significant association was found between childbirth related fear level and following demographic variables such as religion (χ² 8.25), employment status (χ² 5.69), and monthly income (χ² 14.58) .There was significant association between associated factors and following demographic variable such as age (χ² 5.11), supportive person during pregnant (χ² 1.31) and information regarding childbirth process (χ² 3.84).

Interpretation and Conclusion: The findings of the study showed that there was a significant increase of childbirth related fear level among third trimester primigravida mothers and the highest percentage of unfavourable associated factors influence on fear.