Fear of childbirth and emergency caesarean section in low-risk nulliparous women: a prospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between fear of childbirth (FOC) and emergency caesarean section.


DESIGN
A prospective cohort study of low-risk nulliparous women at term.


SETTING
Nine obstetric departments in Denmark, May 2004-July 2005.


POPULATION
A total of 2598 nulliparous women in spontaneous labor with a single fetus in cephalic presentation at term.


METHODS
Self-reported FOC was assessed at 37 weeks of gestation by the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) version A and at admission to the labor ward by the Delivery Fear Scale (DFS). Mode of delivery was recorded by the attending staff. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (OR).


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Risk of emergency caesarean section in women who feared childbirth.


RESULTS
FOC (W-DEQ sum score ≥ 85 and DFS sum score ≥ 70) was not associated with emergency caesarean section: adjusted OR = 0.81 (95% CI: 0.48-1.36) and OR = 0.97 (95% CI: 0.55-1.71), respectively.


CONCLUSION
In this prospective observational study, women with FOC did not have an increased risk of emergency caesarean section compared to women with no such fear.
['Jespersen|Cecilie|C|', 'Hegaard|Hanne Kristine|HK|', 'Schroll|Anne-Mette|AM|', 'Rosthøj|Susanne|S|', 'Kjærgaard|Hanne|H|']
D000328:Adult D002585:Cesarean Section D015331:Cohort Studies D003718:Denmark D004632:Emergency Medical Services D005239:Fear D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007746:Labor Presentation D010298:Parity D036801:Parturition D011247:Pregnancy D011256:Pregnancy Outcome D011446:Prospective Studies D018570:Risk Assessment D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D047929:Term Birth
fear of childbirth Childbirth obstetrics pregnancy