Correlation between Fear of Childbirth and Childbirth Self-Efficacy during Labor

Background: The research on fear of childbirth and childbirth self-efficacy of pregnant women in China mainly concentrates on the late pregnancy, and there is a lack of research on the psychology of women during labor. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between fear of childbirth and childbirth self-efficacy during labor. Methods: 378 pregnant women in labor were selected by convenience sampling. They were investigated using a self-designed questionnaire, the Chinese version of Childbirth Attitudes Questionnaire, and the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory. Results: The total score of fear of childbirth during labor was 31.95 +/- 9.01, and the total score of childbirth self-efficacy was 212.03 +/- 59.64. The total score of fear of childbirth and the score of each dimension were significantly negatively correlated with those of childbirth self-efficacy (R-2 = -0.354 to -0.155, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Fear of childbirth during labor should arouse attention of medical staffs. It is necessary to enhance psychological support and childbirth self-efficacy during labor to reduce the fear of childbirth.