Prevalence and associated factors of fear for childbirth among pregnant women in eastern Sudan

ABSTRACT

Background

Prenatal fear of childbirth (FOC) is a major health problem. In spite of its importance, there are few studies on FOC in Africa and no published studies on FOC in Sudan.

Objectives

This research aims to assess the prevalence of FOC amongst pregnant Sudanese women and to determine its associated factors.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gadarif , eastern Sudan. The sociodemographic and obstetric data were gathered through a questionnaire. Fear of childbirth was assessed with the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (W-DEQ. The three-item Oslo social support scale was used to measure the psychosocial condition of the participants. A logistic regression analysis was performed with severe FOC as dependent variable and sociodemographic, obstetric factors and social support as independent factors.

Results

A total of 475 women were enrolled in the research. Their median age (interquartile range) was 26.0 (8.0) years. Of these 475 women, 110 (23.2%) were primigravidae, 270 (56.8%) were parous and 95 (20%) were grandmultiparae. Fitty -three (11.1%) women experienced severe FOC (scored ≥66 on the W-DEQ). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, primiparity (adjusted odds ratio = 23.26) was associated with severe FOC. There was no significant association between age, education or social support and severe FOC.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that 11.1% of pregnant Sudanese women exhibited FOC. Primigravidae were more likely to have severe FOC. The implementation of birth education programmes for this risk group is recommended in Sudan.

KEYWORDS:

• Fear of childbirth
• pregnancy
• prevalence
• primigravidae
• social support

Disclosure statement

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