Testing the birth attitude profile scale in a Swedish sample of women with fear of birth

Figures & data

Table 1. Study sample.

	n = 195
	n (%)
Age groups
<25	12 (6.2)
25–35	143 (73.3)
>35	40 (20.5)
Country of birth
Sweden	175 (89.7)
Other country	420(10.3)
Civil status
Livning with partner	189 (96.9)
Not living with partner	6 (3.1)
Level of education
Compulsory school/high school	91 (46.7)
University education	104 (53.3)
Parity
Primiparas	98 (50.3)
Multiparas	97 (49.7)
Previous mental health problems
Yes	95 (51.6)
No	89 (48.4)
HADS-anxiety
0–7	84 (45.7)
8 or more	100 (54.3)
HADS-depression
0–7	157 (85.3)
8 or more	27 (14.7)
EPDS
0–12	134 (72.8)
13 or more	50 (27.3)
Previous negative experience of healthcare
Yes	124 (63.6)
No	71 (36.4)
Birth preference
Vaginal	90 (64.3)
Cesarean section	50 (35.7)

Figure 1. Cluster analysis of birth attitudes and levels of fear.

Table 2. Pattern and structure matrix of four factor Principal Component Analysis solution with oblimin rotation of birth attitudes.

	Pattern coefficient	Structure coefficient
I would like a birth that:
Personal impact
As pain free as possible	0.677	0.723
Will allow me to feel fit and well sooner	0.702	0.757
Will least affect my futuresex life	0.752	0.742
Is the least stressful option for me	0.578	0.627
Plan the date	0.454	0.456
Will allow me to plan the date my baby is born	0.625	0.622
Will allow mw to feel more in control	0.503	0.505
Birth as a natural event
Is as natural as possible	0.833	0.816
Giving birth is a natural process that should	0.720	0.742
not be interfered with unless necessary
Give me the best start to breastfeeding	0.701	0.695
Freedom of choice
If a woman wants to have a cesarean section she	0.813	0.795
should be able to have one under any circumstances
If a woman wants to have a vaginal birth she	0.823	0.826
should be able to have one under any circumstances
Safety concerns
Is the safest option for the baby	0.808	0.821
Is the least stressful option for the baby	0.777	0.779
Is the safest option for me	0.677	0.670

Table 3. Cluster membership in relation to background characteristics.

	Cluster 1	Cluster 2	Odd ratios (95% Confidence Interval)
Age groups
<25	2 (4.9)	10 (6.7)	1.27 (0.26–1.14)
25–35	28 (68.3)	110 (73.8)	1.0 Ref.
>35	11 (26.8)	29 (19.5)	0.67 (0.29–1.51)
Country of birth
Sweden	38 (92.7)	133 (89.3)	0.66 (0.13–3.21)
Other country	3 (7.3)	16 (10.7)	1.0 Ref.
Civil status
Livning with partner	41 (100.0)	143 (96.0)	NA
Not living with partner	0	6 (4.0)
Level of education
Compulsory school/high school	21 (51.2)	68 (45.6)	0.80 (0.40–1.59)
University education	20 (48.8)	81 (54.4)	1.0 Ref.
Parity
Primiparas	23 (56.1)	74 (49.7)	1.0 Ref.
Multiparas	18 (43.9)	75 (50.3)	1.29 (0.64–2.59)
Previous mental health problems
Yes	14 (34.1)	78 (56.5)	2.50 (1.21–5.19)
No	27 (65.9)	60 (43.5)	1.0 Ref.
HADS-anxiety
0–7	28 (68.3)	54 (39.1)	1.0 Ref.
8 or more	13 (31.7)	84 (60.9)	3.35 (1.59-7.03)
HADS-depression
0–7	38 (92.7)	114 (82.6)	1.0 Ref.
8 or more	3 (7.3)	24 (17.4)	2.66 (0.76–9.35)
EPDS
0–12	38 (92.7)	93 (67.4)	1.0 Ref.
13 or more	3 (7.3)	45 (32.6)	6.12 (1.79–20.9)
Previous negative experience of healthcare
Yes	23 (56.1)	97 (65.1)	1.46 (0.72–2.92)
No	18 (43.9)	52 (34.9)	1.0 Ref.
Birth preference
Vaginal	23 (71.9)	65 (61.5)	1.0 Ref.
Cesarean section	9 (28.1)	41 (38.7)	1.61 (0.67–3.82)

Ref.: reference; NA: not available.