Effects of antenatal education on fear of childbirth, maternal self-efficacy and parental attachment

Abstract

Objective: to examine the effects of antenatal education on fear of childbirth, maternal self-efficacy, and maternal and paternal attachment.

Design: quasi-experimental study, comparing an antenatal education group and a control group.

Participants: 63 pregnant women and their husbands.

Measurements: demographic data forms, the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory, the Maternal Attachment Inventory and the Postnatal Paternal-Infant Attachment Questionnaire were used for data collection.

Findings: antenatal education was found to reduce the fear of childbirth and to increase childbirth-related maternal self-efficacy. However, antenatal education was found to have no effect on parental attachment.

Key conclusions: it is recommended that widespread antenatal education programmes should be provided in developing countries, and the content of the education programme about parental attachment should be increased.

Implications for practice: this study found that antenatal education has no influence on maternal and paternal attachment. As such, there is a need to increase the content of the education programme about parental attachment.

Keywords: Antenatal education; Fear of childbirth; Maternal attachment; Paternal attachment; Self-efficacy.