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Effects of depression and anxiety on the fear of childbirth

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Abstract

Childbirth, labor, and the postnatal period are highly impacted by fear of childbirth. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehensively study the FoC, having a multifactorial etiology. We did the current study to reveal the influences of anxiety and depression experienced by expectant women on their fear of childbirth. This cross-sectional study consisted of expectant women in their third trimester who presented to the gynecology and obstetrics department and the LDRP department of a city hospital between November 2019 and May 2020. According to the findings, the level of FoC was moderate in 46% of the participants. Their mean anxiety score was 17.50 ± 8.18, and 41% had mild depression. A positive correlation was identified between participants’ FoC and their depression and anxiety levels. It was determined that receiving prenatal education, inability to cope with childbirth, and depression and anxiety experienced by expectant women were significant predictors of their fear of childbirth. Health professionals can provide individualized care, education, and counseling services by taking into account the effects of depression and anxiety so that expectant women’s fear of childbirth can be reduced.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nurse Antalya Kepez State Hospital, Antalya, Turkey

    Ayşe Yıldırım

  2. Department of Nursing, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Antalya, Turkey

    Figen Alp Yılmaz

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  1. Ayşe Yıldırım
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Correspondence to Figen Alp Yılmaz.

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Ethics committee approval (date: 30.10.2019 and number: 2017-KAEK-189_2019.10.30_06) of the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Turkish University was obtained.

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Yıldırım, A., Alp Yılmaz, F. Effects of depression and anxiety on the fear of childbirth. Curr Psychol 43, 7691–7696 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04975-6

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