Fear of Childbirth, Fatigue, and Well-being in Pregnant Women

Fear of childbirth is an unpleasant and common condition that negatively affects pregnant women’s emotions and undermines the process of natural changes that occur during this period. This study was conducted to determine the relationship of fear of childbirth with the severity of fatigue and the level of mental well-being in pregnant women.

This descriptive cross-sectional study followed by a correlation design was carried out on 525 pregnant women who referred to Sabzevar healthcare in 2017. Based on a cluster sampling method data collection was performed using demographic characteristics form, the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (WDEQ-A), the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) scale. The data were analyzed by SPSS 16, using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. 

19% of the subjects scored above 85 and 6% of them scored higher than 100 on the WDE-Q. Also, 24.8% of these women scored less than 50 on the WHO-5. The studied women’s mean fatigue index was 20.3±12.7. Fear of childbirth had a positive correlation with fatigue (r=0.235) and a negative correlation with well-being (r=0.310) (P<0.05).

Women experience various degrees of fear of childbirth during pregnancy. Providing mental support for pregnant women and using psychological techniques aimed at reducing their fear of childbirth during pregnancy are highly recommended.