The Effect of Spiritual Counseling on Childbirth Self-efficacy to Cope with Labor in Primiparous Women

childbirth and labor pain is physiological condition due to contraction of the smooth muscle of the uterus. Labor contractions vary from person to person in terms of being painful, and its management is of particular importance. This study was conducted to determine the effect of spiritual counseling on childbirth self-efficacy to cope with labor in primiparous women.

This experimental study was performed in 2019 on 100 healthy pregnant women at 28-30 weeks of pregnancy in Urmia, Iran. Sample were selected by convenient sampling from two selected hospitals. Demographic questionnaire, Spiritual Well-Being Scale and Childbirth Self-Efficacy inventory were used to collect data. For the intervention group, six spiritual counseling sessions were held weekly and each session lasted 45-60 minutes. Pregnant women in the control group received only usual pregnancy care. The questionnaire was completed after the last counseling session and 12-24 hours after delivery. The data was analyzed using SPSS18 through Chi-square, Independent t-test, Anova repeated measures and Bon Ferroni tests. 

The results showed a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of self-efficacy to cope with labor, after the intervention and 12-24 hours later in the intervention group compared to the control group (P <0.001). 

Based on the results of this study, spiritual counseling can increase childbirth self-efficacy to cope with labor. Thus, using this method as a non-pharmacological and safe method is recommended during childbirth.