Negative impressions of childbirth in a North-West England student population

Abstract

Background: Sociocultural childbirth representations can influence the perceptions of childbirth negatively. In this paper we report on a survey study to explore the factors associated with negative impressions of childbirth in a North-West England University student sample. We also explored whether different sources and perceptions of childbirth information were linked to fear of childbirth.

Methods: All students received a survey link via an online messaging board and/or direct e-mail. Female students who were 18–40 years of age and childless (but planned to have children in the future) were invited to participate. Demographics, birth preferences, a fear of birth and general anxiety measures were included as well as questions about what sources of information shaped students’ attitudes toward pregnancy and birth (i.e. visual/written media, experiences of friends/family members, school-based education and other) and impressions of birth from these sources (i.e. positive, negative, both positive and negative and not applicable).

Results: Eligible students (n = 276) completed the online questionnaire. The majority were Caucasian (87%) with a mean age of 22.6 years. Ninety-two students (33.3%) reported negative childbirth impressions through direct or vicarious sources. Students with negative birth impressions were significantly more likely to report higher fear of birth scores. Negatively perceived birth stories of friends/family members, and mixed perceptions of visual media representations of birth were associated with higher fear of birth scores. Having witnessed a birth first-hand and describing the experience as amazing was linked to lower fear scores.

Conclusion: First-hand observations of birth, especially positive experiences, had implications for salutary outcomes. Negative or conflicting perceptions of vicarious experiences were associated with increased levels of childbirth fear. While further research is needed, these insights suggest a need for positive birth stories and messages to be disseminated to mitigate any negative effects of indirect accounts.

Keywords:

• Fear of birth
• prepregnancy
• sociocultural influences
• women

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the University staff who helped to facilitate this study and to all the students who participated. We would also like to thank Kerri Blackburn for her support in formatting the paper for publication.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest. There was no funding sought/obtained to undertake this study.

Current knowledge on the subject:

• Fear of birth can affect men and women and can vary from negligible concerns to intense emotional and physical responses.

• Childbirth fear is often associated with concerns about labor pain, obstetric complications, and health risks to the infant and mother.

• Sociocultural childbirth representations can influence perceptions of childbirth negatively.

What this study adds:

• This is the first study undertaken in the UK to explore factors associated with negative impressions of childbirth with a sample of childless female students who planned to have children in the future.

• Participants with negative impressions of childbirth were more likely to have higher fear of birth scores.

• Birth stories perceived negatively, and conflicting perceptions of visual media representations were associated with higher fear of birth scores. First-hand observations of birth, especially positive experiences, were associated with lower childbirth fear.