Defining and measuring Fear of Childbirth
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Fear of childbirth: Specification of the construct and evaluation of existing measures for use in an English maternity care setting
IRAS ID
191411
Contact name
Kayleigh Sheen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 0 days
Research summary
Fear of childbirth (FOC) is a key element of psychological distress in pregnancy. General anxiety in pregnancy is associated with lower birth weight, prematurity and can influence infant development and children’s mental health. Many pregnant women who fear childbirth do not report symptoms of general anxiety and their difficulties go undetected. Most FOC research has been based in Scandinavia using complex questionnaires. What UK women fear about childbirth is not clear and there are no simple measuring tools developed for UK women. \n\nThis work will define and consider how women with FOC can be identified. The project consists of two elements. Element 1 will involve interviews with women who have FOC and professionals who provide care for women with FOC. Interviews with midwives will also ask about how best to screen for FOC during pregnancy. A literature review will also be carried out to find key parts of FOC. Element 2 will evaluate existing measures for FOC with a small sample of pregnant women. Cognitive interviewing (where people think aloud while completing a questionnaire) will be used to check that women understand the questions, feel them to be suitable and to find out if there are any changes that need to be made. The definition of fear of childbirth (from element 1) will be used to make sure that a measure will include key parts of the fear of childbirth response. We will produce a measure suitable for UK women and services, ready for further testing.\n\nIdentifying women who have high levels of FOC in their pregnancy will mean that support can be provided early to reduce or manage anxiety. This will help to improve their wellbeing during and after pregnancy, their experience of birth, and could also reduce adverse psychological outcomes for their infant.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0922
Date of REC Opinion
18 Dec 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion