How social context impacts on women's fears of childbirth: A Western Australian example

Fisher, Colleen; Hauck, Yvonne; Fenwick, Jennifer

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.11.065

Cited by 185 publications

(229 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Fear of childbirth is a personal, emotional experience constructed in interaction with the social environment (Eriksson, Westman, & Hamberg, 2005) and shaped by the maternity care system and the antenatal care provider (Fisher, Hauck, & Fenwick, 2006). Because Belgium and the Netherlands have different models of maternity care, we expected to uncover different experiences with fear of childbirth in both countries.…”

Section: Fear Of Childbirth In Two Maternity Care Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pregnant Women's Fear of Childbirth in Midwife- and Obstetrician-Led Care in Belgium and the Netherlands: Test of the Medicalization Hypothesis

2011

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Fear of childbirth has gained importance in the context of increasing medicalization of childbirth.Belgian and the Dutch societies are very similar but differ with regard to the organization of maternity care. The Dutch have a high percentage of home births and low medical intervention rates.In contrast, home births in Belgium are rarer, and the medical model is more widely used. By comparing the Belgian and the Dutch maternity care models we explored the association between fear of childbirth and medicalization.An antenatal questionnaire was completed by 833 women at 30 weeks of pregnancy. Fear of childbirth was measured by a shortened Dutch version of the Childbirth AttitudesQuestionnaire. A four-dimensional model with baby-related, pain and injuries-related, general and personal control-related, and medical interventions and hospital care-related fear, fitted well in both countries. Multiple regression analysis showed no country differences, except that Belgian women in midwife-led care were more fearful of medical interventions and hospital care than the Dutch. For the other dimensions, both Belgian and Dutch women receiving midwifery care reported less fear compared to those in obstetric antenatal care. Hence, irrespective of the maternity care model, antenatal care providers are crucial in preventing fear of childbirth.

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Section: Fear Of Childbirth In Two Maternity Care Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pregnant Women's Fear of Childbirth in Midwife- and Obstetrician-Led Care in Belgium and the Netherlands: Test of the Medicalization Hypothesis

2011

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“…Sociodemographic characteristics such as low educational level, lack of social support, marital dissatisfaction, being young, unemployment, and having heard bad stories about pregnancy and childbirth are associated with fear of childbirth (14,18,(32)(33)(34). Other risk factors include the history of negative experience of delivery, operative delivery, emergency Cesarean section, violence, and sexual abuse (11,12,35,36).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some characteristics such as fear of pain and low level of pain tolerance are also known as the causes of fears of childbirth (13,32,38). Some other reasons include fear of mother's death, fear of losing control, or fear of expressing stupid behaviors during labor (32).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of Fear of Childbirth and Its Associated Factors in Primigravid Women: A Cross- Sectional Study

et al. 2017

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Background and Objectives: Fear of childbirth is a common concern among pregnant women, which is why many women request Cesarean section. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the prevalence of fear of childbirth and its associated factors in primigravid women in Khorramabad, Lorestan province, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 primigravid women (gestational age: 18 -32 weeks), who referred to the health centers and stations of Khorramabad in 2014 for routine prenatal care. The participants were selected through multistage cluster sampling method. Childbirth attitude questionnaire (CAQ), demographic characteristics and pregnancy characteristics questionnaires, and Northouse social support questionnaire were used to collect data. The data were analyzed using chi-square test, t test, Mann-Whitney test, and multivariate logistic regression.

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“…A study by Fisher, Hauck and Fenwick (2006) shows that women fear the prospect of a medical event over which they will have no control, and Nilsson and Lundgren (2009 p. e7) have demonstrated links between negative birth experiences and high levels of fear in subsequent pregnancies. Dahlen (2010) considers an increased fear of childbirth to also be a strong influence on midwives' clinical practice, determining the type of care they are willing to provide.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Being safe practitioners and safe mothers: A critical ethnography of continuity of care midwifery in Australia

Dove

Muir‐Cochrane

2014

Midwifery

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ObjectiveTo examine how midwives and women within a continuity of care midwifery program in Australia conceptualised childbirth risk and the influences of these conceptualisations on women's choices and midwives' practice. Design and settingA critical ethnography within a community-based continuity of midwifery care program, including semi-structured interviews and the observation of sequential antenatal appointments. ParticipantsEight (8) midwives, an obstetrician and seventeen (17) women. FindingsThe midwives assumed a risk-negotiator role in order to mediate relationships between women and hospital-based maternity staff. The role of risk-negotiator relied profoundly on the trust engendered in their relationships with women. Trust within the mother-midwife relationship furthermore acted as a catalyst for complex processes of identity work which, in turn, allowed midwives to manipulate existing obstetric risk hierarchies and effectively re-order risk conceptualisations. In establishing and maintaining identities of 'safe practitioner' and 'safe mother', greater scope for the negotiation of normal within a context of obstetric risk was achieved. 2 Key Conclusions and Implications for practiceThe effects of obstetric risk practices can be mitigated when trust within the mother-midwife relationship acts as a catalyst for identity work and supports the midwife's role as a risknegotiator. The achievement of mutual identity-work through the midwives' role as risknegotiator can contribute to improved outcomes for women receiving continuity of care.However, midwives needed to perform the role of risk-negotiator while simultaneously negotiating their professional credibility in a setting that construed their practice as risky.3

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How social context impacts on women's fears of childbirth: A Western Australian example

Cited by 185 publications

References 38 publications

Pregnant Women's Fear of Childbirth in Midwife- and Obstetrician-Led Care in Belgium and the Netherlands: Test of the Medicalization Hypothesis

Pregnant Women's Fear of Childbirth in Midwife- and Obstetrician-Led Care in Belgium and the Netherlands: Test of the Medicalization Hypothesis

Prevalence of Fear of Childbirth and Its Associated Factors in Primigravid Women: A Cross- Sectional Study

Being safe practitioners and safe mothers: A critical ethnography of continuity of care midwifery in Australia

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