Fear of Childbirth and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Predictors of Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy in Pregnant Women

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the fear of childbirth (FOC) and prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy, the factors affecting them, and the factors that predict breastfeeding self-efficacy among Turkish pregnant women. Methods: The research was of a descriptive and cross-sectional type. The study was conducted with 228 pregnant women who came to the obstetrics outpatients' department at 28-40 weeks of gestation. Data were collected using an Individual Description Form, the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Scale (W-DEQ), and the Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (PBSES). Results: The mean age of the pregnant women was 28.09 +/- 4.29. The W-DEQ scores of the pregnant women were 66.50 +/- 11.38, and their PBSES scores were 63.71 +/- 4.43. More than half of the pregnant women (59.1%) experienced severe and clinical FOC. Prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy was significantly lower in pregnant women with severe and clinical FOC compared with those with mild and moderate FOC (p<0.001). There was a very low level negative correlation between FOC and PBSES (r= -0.277, p<0.001). W-DEQ, education level, duration of marriage, feeling about pregnancy and duration of breastfeeding were determined as predictors of PBSES (p<0.05, R-2:0.472). Conclusion: It was found that the majority of pregnant women experienced levels of severe and clinical FOC and their prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy perceptions were moderate. Health professionals should provide education and counseling to pregnant women to reduce the fear of childbirth experienced by pregnant women and to improve their prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy. In this way, mother-child health will be protected both during pregnancy and in the postnatal period.