The Research Of Antenatal Fear Of Childbirth And Its Associated Factors In Pregnant Women

Objective:This study was aimed to establish a Chinese version of the Childbirth Attitude Questionnaire(CAQ), describe the status of antenatal fear of childbirth in pregnant women, analyze the associated factors of fear of childbirth(FOC), and investigate the nursing strategies for FOC education.The evidence will be provided for nursing intervention to improve antenatal FOC in pregnant women.Methods:CAQ was translated into Chinese from English(following full forward and backward translation and cultural adaptation). A quantitative descriptive study was undertaken with a convenience sample from a hospital in Changchun from July to October 2015. A total of 400 pregnant women who took part in the antenatal examination were surveyed. The Chinese version of CAQ was used to evaluate the status of antenatal FOC. A database was created with Epidata 3.0 software and the datas were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science(SPSS 17.0).General information was tested by descriptive analysis. Statistical difference was analyzed using t-test, analysis of variance, rank-sum test, chi-square test and multi-stepwise regression analysis to screen the associated factors of FOC.Results:1. The internal consistency of Chinese version of CAQ was good with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.882 and the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of each dimension were 0.672~0.793.The split-half reliability was 0.883. The I-CVI of 13 items were all above 0.75. The S-CVI/UA of whole questionnaire was 0.44 and the S-CVI/Ave was 0.88. A scale of four factors was identified by exploratory factor analysis and the four factors could explain 59.74% of the variance. The load values of 16 items were all above 0.5.2. The median total score of Chinese version of CAQ was 33.02±4.95, and median score of each item was 2.06±0.31; the median score for baby’s well-being was 3.03±0.50; the median score for labor pain and injuries was 2.17±0.37; the median score for personal control was 1.89±0.37; the median score for medical interventions and hospital care was 1.82±0.37.3. There was significant difference among participants’ scores in terms of age,family income, experience of childbirth, state anxiety, trait anxiety, partner’s support,the attitude of family and friends towards delivery and antenatal train(P<0.05).From the result of the multi-stepwise regression test, the factors are showed a statistically significant influence on participants’ scores were family income,experience of childbirth, state anxiety and antenatal train(P<0.05).Conclusion:1. The Chinese version of CAQ had good reliability and validity. It can be used to evaluate the level of fear of childbirth in Chinese women.2. Compared with other researches from America and Grace, the CAQ score of our sample was a little higher. It is noteworthy that the items that were rated with higher score were the “fear of the baby being injured during the delivery”and“fear of something being wrong with the baby”.3. Pregnant woman’s age, family income, experience of childbirth, state anxiety,trait anxiety, partner’s support, the attitude of family and friends towards delivery and antenatal train respectively has an influence on fear of childbirth in different extent.Family income, experience of childbirth, state anxiety and antenatal train were crucial associated factors of fear of childbirth.