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Effects of Antenatal Education on Birth Perception, Fear, and Readiness

The Effect of Antenatal Education Based on Transformative Learning Theory on Traumatic Birth Perception, Fear of Birth, and Birth Readiness in Pregnant Women: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06905821
Acronym
EA-BPFR
Enrollment
54
Registered
2025-04-01
Start date
2024-06-01
Completion date
2025-02-24
Last updated
2025-04-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Childbirth, Fear

Keywords

Transformative Learning, pregnancy, fear, trauma

Brief summary

Birth is a multi-dimensional and unique experience for every woman, and it is influenced by a woman's social life. Fear of childbirth is a common issue that affects women's health and well-being before, during, and after pregnancy. The thought that childbirth will be painful triggers fear of childbirth. Fear of childbirth is closely related to the perception of traumatic birth. Antenatal education is important in coping with childbirth pain and traumatic birth pain, but the aim of adult education is not just to inform, but also to change individuals' perspectives on events. The transformative learning theory is a model used to change individuals' perspectives on events. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of antenatal education based on the transformative learning theory on traumatic birth perception, fear of childbirth, and birth preparedness in pregnant women. The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial with 54 participants. Data collection forms included a personal information form, the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale, the Prenatal Self-Assessment Scale, and the Wijma Birth Expectancy/Experience Scale. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 23.0 (Chicago, Illinois) version was used for data analysis. Histogram and Q-Q plots, and the Shapiro-Wilk test were used to assess the normality of the data distribution. Descriptive data regarding women's demographic characteristics were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, and mean values. Differences in demographic characteristics between groups were examined using the independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-square test. Pre-test and post-test scores of the groups were analyzed using the independent sample t-test. A significance level of p\<0.05 was accepted.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALTransformational Learning-Based Antenatal Education Program

The Transformational Learning-Based Antenatal Education Program helps pregnant women reduce birth-related anxiety and fear by utilizing transformational learning theory. Unlike traditional antenatal education, it emphasizes psychological preparedness, focusing on emotional well-being and coping strategies. The program includes interactive learning, group discussions, and self-reflection to engage participants actively. This approach aims to boost women's confidence and reduce stress as they approach labor and delivery.

Sponsors

Kastamonu University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
20 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Be between the ages of 20-35 * Be in the 30-32 weeks of gestation * Be a primigravida * Have at least basic literacy skills

Exclusion criteria

* Have any chronic diseases * Have any psychiatric disorders * Be a high-risk pregnancy * Have any communication problems * Have communication issues

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Perception of Traumatic BirthBaseline: Week 30 of pregnancy (pre test); An average of 3 weeks (post test)This will be assessed using the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale.The scale, developed by Yalnız et al. (2016), is called the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale. It is designed to assess the traumatic birth perception levels of women of reproductive age. It consists of 13 items that encompass the thoughts and emotions, such as anxiety, fear, and concern, that a woman experiences when thinking about childbirth. For each item, respondents rate their feelings on a scale from 0 (no fear) to 10 (extreme fear). The total average score indicates the level of traumatic birth perception. The lowest and highest possible scores on the scale are 0 and 130, respectively. As the score increases, it reflects a higher perception of traumatic birth. The score ranges are as follows: 0-26 indicates very low, 27-52 low, 53-78 moderate, 79-104 high, and 105-130 indicates very high levels of traumatic birth perception. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of the scale is 0.89.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Childbirth ReadinessBaseline: Week 30 of pregnancy (pre test); An average of 3 weeks (post test)The Childbirth Readiness Subscale (PKDÖ-DHOÖ) was developed by Lederman in 1979 to assess women's adaptation to motherhood during the prenatal period. The scale, consisting of 79 items and using a 4-point Likert-type scale, was validated and tested for reliability in Turkey by Beydağ and Mete (2008). The scale includes 7 subscales: thoughts about the health of oneself and the baby, acceptance of pregnancy, acceptance of the maternal role, childbirth readiness, fear of childbirth, relationship with the mother, and relationship with the spouse. These subscales can be used independently. The general Cronbach's alpha for the Turkish version of the scale is 0.81, and the internal consistency reliability coefficients for the subgroups range from 0.72 to 0.85 (Beydağ & Mete, 2008). Scores on the scale range from 10 to 40. The Cronbach's alpha value for the Childbirth Readiness Subscale (DHOÖ) is 0.72. As the score increases, it indicates a lower level of readiness for childbirth.

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026