Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Sep 9;20(1):522.
doi: 10.1186/s12884-020-03230-1.

The effect of midwifery led counseling based on Gamble's approach on childbirth fear and self-efficacy in nulligravida women

Laya Firouzan  1 , Roghieh Kharaghani  1 , Saeedeh Zenoozian  1   2 , Reza Moloodi  3 , Elham Jafari  4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The effect of midwifery led counseling based on Gamble's approach on childbirth fear and self-efficacy in nulligravida women

Laya Firouzan et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. .

Abstract

Background: Studies show that childbirth fear is a common problem among Iranian women. Therefore, most Iranian women prefer caesarean section for giving birth. This study investigated the effectiveness of a psychoeducational intervention by midwives (birth emotions - looking to improve expectant fear (BELIEF)) on decreasing childbirth fear and self-efficacy among first-time pregnant women who were afraid of giving birth.

Methods: A number of 80 pregnant women participated in the study. They had received a score of ≥66 on the Wijma delivery expectancy/experience questionnaire. They were randomly assigned into two groups: intervention (n = 40) and control groups (n = 40). The intervention group received two face-to-face counseling sessions based on the BELEF protocol in the 24th and 34th weeks of pregnancy. Between these two sessions, it also received eight telephone-counseling sessions once a week. The control group only received the prenatal routine care. The outcome measures were childbirth fear, childbirth self-efficacy, and childbirth preference.

Results: The intervention group showed significantly more reduction in childbirth fear and more increase in childbirth self-efficacy compared to the control group. In addition, more women in the intervention group reported that they preferred to give normal vaginal birth than women in the control group.

Conclusion: The BELIEF protocol could be an effective approach in reducing childbirth fear and increasing childbirth self-efficacy among first-time pregnant women who are afraid of giving birth.

Trial registration number: IRCT20101219005417N3, Date of Registration: 19-12-2018.

Keywords: BELIEF protocol; Childbirth fear; Childbirth self-efficacy; Iran.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no actual or potential conflicts of interest including any financial, personal or other relationships with other people or organizations within 3 years of beginning the work submitted that could inappropriately influence their work.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of the study
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Rafiei M, Ghare MS, Akbari M, Kiani F, Sayehmiri F, Sayehmiri K, et al. Prevalence, causes, and complications of cesarean delivery in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2018;16(4):221. doi: 10.29252/ijrm.16.4.221. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Azami-Aghdash S, Ghojazadeh M, Dehdilani N, Mohammadi M. Prevalence and causes of cesarean section in Iran: systematic review and meta-analysis. Iran J Public Health. 2014;43(5):545. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Matinnia N, Faisal I, Juni MH, Herjar AR, Moeini B, Osman ZJ. Fears related to pregnancy and childbirth among primigravidae who requested caesarean versus vaginal delivery in Iran. Matern Child Health J. 2015;19(5):1121–1130. doi: 10.1007/s10995-014-1610-0. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Nieminen K, Malmquist A, Wijma B, Ryding EL, Andersson G, Wijma K. Nulliparous pregnant women's narratives of imminent childbirth before and after internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy for severe fear of childbirth: a qualitative study. Bjog-Int J Obstet Gy. 2015;122(9):1259–1265. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.13358. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ryding EL, Lukasse M, Parys ASV, Wangel AM, Karro H, Kristjansdottir H, et al. Fear of childbirth and risk of cesarean delivery: a cohort study in six European countries. Birth. 2015;42(1):48–55. doi: 10.1111/birt.12147. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types