Effects of a Self-Efficacy Promoting for Active Birth on Childbirth a Self-Efficacy, Fear of Childbirth, and Pain Coping Among Primiparous Women
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Abstract
This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the effects of a childbirth self-efficacy enhancement program on childbirth self-efficacy, fear of childbirth, and pain coping among primiparous women receiving antenatal care at Ban Bung Hospital between September 2024 and June 2025. A total of 54 participants who met the inclusion criteria were recruited and assigned to an experimental group (n = 27) and a comparison group (n = 27). The experimental group received a 4-week childbirth self-efficacy enhancement program consisting of verbal persuasion through education to foster knowledge and positive attitudes toward self-managed childbirth, physical training and pain relief techniques for natural childbirth, observational modeling videos, follow-up support and encouragement, and intrapartum support. The comparison group received routine nursing care. Data were collected using the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, the Fear of Childbirth Questionnaire (Versions A and B), and a Pain Coping Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, independent t-tests, and repeated measures analysis of variance. The results showed that, after the intervention, the experimental group had significantly higher childbirth self-efficacy, lower fear of childbirth, and greater pain coping during the active and late phases of cervical dilation than the comparison group (p < .01). Within-group analysis also revealed that childbirth self-efficacy significantly increased and fear of childbirth significantly decreased in the experimental group after the intervention (p < .01).These findings suggest that midwives should promote childbirth self-efficacy by providing childbirth preparation classes and supporting natural childbirth during labor to reduce fear of childbirth, enhance pain coping, and facilitate self-managed childbirth.
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