The relationship of birth pain catastrophe with the severity of labor pain and the activities of daily living after the childbirth

Labor pain catastrophizing (LPC) is one of the important factors in choosing the childbirth type and can disrupt the activities of daily living (ADL) of pregnant women. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of LPC with the intensity of labor pain and the ADL after the childbirth. This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 400 pregnant women, referred to Ramsar City's healthcare centers in 2016 and selected using cluster and random method. Data were collected using Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) whose one part includes self-report measure and ADL questionnaire. Participants were studied during their pregnancy to determine their pain catastrophizing and to evaluate their pain intensity and ADL 10 days after the childbirth. Data were analyzed using SPSS18 through independent t-test, Chi-square, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression. Results showed that 64% of participants gained the total scores above the cut-off point of PCS while 57% of them had relative independence in their ADL. The mean pain intensity score was 23.92±4.12 and 19.05±2.14 for the groups who had LPC and no LPC, respectively. There was a significant difference between two groups in terms of pain intensity during the childbirth (P=0.003). Among the regression model variables, "childbirth pain intensity", "participating in educational classes", "number of the previous childbirths", "the time interval between the previous and the current childbirth" and "the level of trust to the healthcare providers" had no significant statistically relationship with LPC (p<0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between LPC and ADL (p=0.14). It is concluded that LPC is a predictor factor for labor pain intensity. Childbirth preparation classes, screening the psychological disorders and receiving healthcare providers' consultation can be effective in LPC prevention and decrease. Moreover, providing interventions like cognitive and behavioral skills education plays an important role in managing LPC and empowerment the pregnant women against the effective factors of this phenomenon.