Effects of antepartum education on worries about labor and mode of delivery

Abstract

Aim

This study evaluated the effects of antenatal education, which was provided in a pregnancy education class, on pregnant women’s concerns about labor and the mode of delivery.

Materials and Methods

Primigravid pregnant women (n = 144) were enrolled into the study between May 2017 and November 2018. Pregnant women received standard education on nutrition during pregnancy, exercise, methods of coping with pain, and breastfeeding. The participants completed the “Introductory Information Form” and “Oxford Worries about Labour Scale” to collect data.

Results

A statistically significant difference was found between the participants’ pain, distress, uncertainty, and interventions in the pre-education, post-education, and postpartum periods and mean total score on the Oxford scale (p<.05). However, education had no significant effect on the mode of delivery (p>.05).

Conclusion

Education provided during pregnancy significantly decreased women’s worries about labor, but it did not lead to a significant difference in the modes of delivery.

Keywords:

• Pregnancy
• worries about labor
• mode of delivery
• antenatal education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).