Fatores associados ao medo de parto em gestantes de risco habitual.

Abstract

Introduction: The childbirth experience is a multidimensional event influenced by individual, cultural, and social aspects, with fear of childbirth being one of the most common conditions among pregnant women. Fear of childbirth manifests as intense anxiety, ranging from mild to debilitating, significantly impacting a woman's well-being and functionality during pregnancy, with implications for perinatal outcomes and mental health. Objective: To analyze the sociodemographic and obstetric factors associated with fear of childbirth in low-risk pregnant women. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study, conducted between March and November 2024, at the Physical Therapy Department of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), in Natal/RN, Brazil. The sample consisted of 75 low-risk pregnant women, aged over 18 years, with a gestational period between 10 and 30 weeks. Participants completed a sociodemographic and obstetric questionnaire, developed by the researchers to characterize the sample. The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version A (W-DEQ-A) was the instrument chosen to measure fear of childbirth. This questionnaire, composed of 33 items, asked pregnant women to respond using a scale from 0 to 5, reflecting their perceptions of labor and impending childbirth. A range of aspects was addressed, including anticipated sensations during the process, expectations regarding pain, self-confidence and belief in body capacity, as well as concerns about the baby's well-being. Results: Participants (n=75) had a mean chronological age of 30.21 ± 4.88 years and a gestational age of 21.64 ± 5.78 weeks. Descriptive data revealed that most were in their second trimester of pregnancy (64%), had higher education (88%), belonged to social class C according to CCEB (46.7%), did not engage in physical activity (66.7%), and received private prenatal care (93.3%). Additionally, 72% of pregnant women experienced lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy and did not experience it before. Regarding fear of childbirth, the mean score was 77.57 ± 8.25, with 68% (n=51) exhibiting high fear and 26,7% (n=20) tocophobia. In the association analyses, a statistically significant relationship was observed only between fear of childbirth and gestational age (p=0.032). Variables such as lumbopelvic pain (p=0.439), social class (p=0.119), private prenatal care (p=0.701), and physical activity (p=0.545) did not show a significant association with fear of childbirth. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that fear of childbirth is a prevalent phenomenon in low-risk pregnant women and that its intensity increases with the progression of gestation.