Factors Associated with Fear during labor

Kim, Min Jeung; Shin, Hyun Mi; Park, In Yang; Hur, Soo Young; Lee, Gui Sera; Shin, Joung Chul; Kim, Dae Jin; Kim, Sa Jin

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Pregnant women have various fears and expectations regarding the impending birth. Fears can influence the course of the delivery and post-partum period. The DFS (Delivery Fear Scale) measures fear during labor and delivery in an effortless and fast away. The aim of this study were to compare DFS score and parity, maternal age, history of abortion, baby gender during an early stage of active labor (cervix dilatation 3-5 centimeters).
METHODS
Review of the medical records from the department of obstetrics and gynecology from January 2004 to December confirmed 151 patients with the diagnosis of singleton pregnancy without medical or obstetrical complications, being in 37-42 weeks. 86 primiparous and 65 multiparous women answered the Delivery Fear Scale (DFS) once during active labor. Mann-Whitney test was applied to test possible differences between DFS and variable factors. Difference were considered to be statistically significant at p<0.05.
RESULTS
Primiparous women had higher scores on the DFS than multiparous women during active labor. But DFS was not associated with maternal age, history of abortion, baby gender during an early stage of active labor.
CONCLUSION
Women's psychological experiences during the actual process of labor and delivery are essential part of obstetrical care. Nevertheless, studies examining psychological variables concerning childbirth, are mostly performed before or after labor. The understanding of a fear during labor is to support the woman in labor in a way that decrease fear and the development of the DFS may facilitate future research in the field.