Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Current Psychology, cilt.43, sa.45, ss.34624-34632, 2024 (SSCI)
This study aimed to determine the influence of beliefs and fears regarding childbirth on birth delivery preferences in pregnant women. This study is descriptive and correlational. The data were collected from 238 pregnant women. Data were collected between June-November 2023 using the “Personal Information Form”, “Birth Beliefs Scale” and “Childbirth Attitudes Questionnaire”. Data obtained from the study were analyzed using the SPSS statistical package program. 64.7% of the pregnant women were in the 28-34th gestational week and 65.1% preferred to give birth vaginally. The study revealed that pregnant women’s beliefs that birth is a natural process are significantly stronger than those who see it as a medical process. Women who believed that birth was a natural process tended to prefer vaginal delivery, whereas those who saw it as a medical process tended to prefer cesarean section. Although pregnant women generally had strong beliefs that childbirth was a natural process, their fear of childbirth was moderate. Moreover, the fear of childbirth increased as the belief that childbirth is a medical process became stronger. This study indicates that beliefs and fears regarding childbirth significantly influence birth preferences in pregnant women. It is crucial for healthcare professionals to provide information to pregnant women undecided on the birth method regarding the reasons for vaginal and cesarean delivery and their advantages and disadvantages for maternal and fetal health.