Changes in Women's Constructed Fear of Natural Childbirth, Before and After Delivery

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 MSc, Department of Women and Family Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Profeesor, Department of Women and Family Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

10.48305/jims.v43.i836.1364

Abstract

Background: Women's health, especially maternal health, has a direct impact on family and societal health. Fear of natural childbirth pain is one of the key factors in choosing unnecessary cesarean sections. This study aims to examine the differences in the level of fear of natural childbirth before and after delivery.
Methods: This study was conducted in the summer of 2022 using an electronic questionnaire and the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ). The sample included 1038 mothers from across the country who had given birth within the last 10 years.
Findings: Only about 40% of births were natural, which is significantly lower than the globally recommended rate. Furthermore, with the improvement in the residential area, the occurrence of natural childbirth decreased. A significant change in the level of fear of pain was observed after natural childbirth.
Conclusion: It appears that women experience a socially or mentally constructed fear before childbirth, which diminishes after childbirth, leading to a more positive attitude towards it. The fear of pain among women decreases after experiencing natural childbirth in Iran, and it seems this fear stems more from negative mental or social perceptions than from the actual pain.

Highlights

Afsaneh tavassoli: Google Scholar, PubMed 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 43, Issue 836
4th Week, December
November and December 2026
Pages 1364-1372

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History

  • Receive Date: 26 December 2024
  • Accept Date: 13 September 2025

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