Fear of Childbirth among Pregnant Women in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia

[[abstract]]Background: Fear is a stage of emotion commonly experienced during pregnancy. Several factors are involved in the rise of fear of childbirth. Studies conducted in various places in Nordic countries showed that fear of childbirth happens to almost every pregnant women. Furthermore, this event impacts on maternal postpartum mental health and childcare. Purpose: This study was proposed to analyze the factors related to fear of childbirth among third trimester pregnant women in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia.Method: This was a descriptive study with a cross-sectional approach. The study conducted in an outpatient department of one public health service and three private maternal clinics in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia from July to September 2014. Perceived Social Support from Family developed by Procidano & Heller (1983) and Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version A, an instrument developed by Klaas Wijma (1998) were applied to this study. ANOVA, t-test, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data.Result: A total of 156 respondents participated in this study. As many as 78.2% (n= 122) of respondents showed an excellent support level and 5% (n= 9) of respondents showed a severe fear of childbirth. Perceived social support and fear of childbirth showed a negative relationship (r=-.316; p<.01). Ethnicity (t= 8.353; p<.001), current pregnancy complications (t=-3.839; p<.001), occupation (t=-2.205; p=.029), income (t=-3.265; p=.001), previous delivery attendants (F= 5.794; p=.004), and previous delivery places (F=5.548; p=.005) were statistically significant to fear of childbirth. Other factors such as age (F=0.636; p=.531), education (t=0.291; p=.727), religion (t=-1.137; p=.257), parity (t=-0.692; p=.490) and previous delivery methods (F=2.976; p=.531) showed a non-significant result in fear of childbirth. Multiple linear regression showed that support from family (p=.001) and ethnicity (p<.001) were two most contributed factors to fear of childbirth level. The increase of one score support level, reduce 0.3 point fear of childbirth level. The relation of the ethnicity and family support need to be analyzed deeper to understand the actual pattern happening in the community, so that the maternal care can be specified to a specific ethnicity based on their cultural believe.Conclusion: Low number of people with severe fear of childbirth doesn’t mean they do not experience any fear at all. It is important to emphasis that each of the ethnicity exist in Indonesia might have its own culture to be integrated in the health care. Support is even more important to be emphasized in the family. The presence of the husband in each of the antenatal visit is important, so that the problem might arise during pregnancy will be the responsibility of both, husband and wife. Antenatal classes might also be very helpful solution for the couple