Nath, S;
Lewis, LN;
Bick, D;
Demilew, J;
Howard, LM;
(2021)
Mental health problems and fear of childbirth: A cohort study of women in an inner-city maternity service.
Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care
, 48
(2)
pp. 230-241.
10.1111/birt.12532.
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Abstract
Objectives: To estimate the population prevalence of severe fear of childbirth (FOC) during pregnancy and investigate its association with: (a) antenatal common mental disorders (depression and anxiety disorder) and (b) elective cesarean birth. / Methods: 545 participants from an inner-city London maternity population were interviewed soon after their first antenatal appointment (mean gestation: 14 weeks). Current mental disorders were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview DSM-IV. FOC was measured using the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (WDEQ-A) at approximately 28 weeks gestation (n = 377), with severe FOC defined using a cutoff of WDEQ-A ≥ 85. Birth mode information was collected at 3 months post-delivery using an adapted Adult Service Use Schedule. Linear regressions were used to model associations, adjusting for the effects of covariates (age, parity, relationship status, education, and planned pregnancy). Sampling weights were used to adjust for bias introduced by the stratified sampling. We also accounted for missing data within the analysis. / Results: The estimated population prevalence of severe FOC was 3% (95% CI: 2%-6%) (n = 377). Depression and anxiety were significantly associated with severe FOC after adjustment for covariates (45% vs 11%; coefficient: 15.75, 95% CI: 8.08-23.42, P < .001). There was a weak association between severe FOC and elective cesarean birth. / Conclusions: Severe FOC occurs in around 3% of the population. Depression and anxiety are associated with FOC. Pregnant people with depression and anxiety may be at increased risk of experiencing severe FOC. Attitudes toward childbirth should be assessed as part of routine clinical assessment of pregnant people in contact with mental health services.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Mental health problems and fear of childbirth: A cohort study of women in an inner-city maternity service |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1111/birt.12532 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12532 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Birth published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Keywords: | anxiety, depression, fear of childbirth, mental disorders, pregnancy |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health > Population, Policy and Practice Dept |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10129893 |
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