Effects of online antenatal education on worries about labour, fear of childbirth, preparedness for labour and fear of covid-19 during the covid-19 pandemic: A single-blind randomised controlled study

Elif Uludağ, Pınar Serçekuş, Okan Vardar, Sevgi Özkan, Süleyman Erkan Alataş, Elif Uludağ, Pınar Serçekuş, Okan Vardar, Sevgi Özkan, Süleyman Erkan Alataş

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effects of online antenatal education on worries about labour, fear of childbirth, preparedness for labour and fear of COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: A single-blind randomised controlled trial comparing two groups: an antenatal education group and a control group.

Participants: The sample consisted of 44 pregnant women.

Measurements: A demographic data form, The Oxford Worries on Labour Scale, The Fear of Birth Scale, The Prenatal Self Evaluation Questionnaire and The Fear of COVID-19 Scale were used for data collection.

Findings: Online antenatal education decreased worries about labour, fear of childbirth and fear of COVID-19 and improved preparedness for labour.

Key conclusions: Online antenatal education offered during the COVID-19 pandemic is effective in preparedness for labour.

Implications for practice: As an alternative, online antenatal education should be offered to pregnant women unable to attend face to face education programs due to fear of transmission of infection.

Keywords: Antenatal education; COVID-19; Fear of childbirth; Pregnancy; Preparedness for labour; Worry.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest None.

Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CONSORT flow diagram of the study.

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