Sociodemographic Correlates of Childbirth Fear and Preventive Practices among Pregnant Women attending Healthcare Facilities in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State

Abstract

The study investigated sociodemographic correlates of childbirth fear and preventive practices among pregnant women attending healthcare facilities in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State. Three specific objectives with three corresponding research questions and one null hypothesis guided the study. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study consisted of 1,736 registered pregnant women attending healthcare facilities in Nsukka LGA, Enugu State. A total of 390 (97.5%) pregnant women who responded were drawn through a two-stage sampling procedure. The Sociodemographic Data Sheet (SDS), Childbirth Fear Questionnaire (CFQ), and Preventive Practices for Childbirth Fear Questionnaire (PPCFQ) were used for data collection. Data were analysed using frequencies and percentages, point-biserial (rbp) correlation, and multivariable logistic regression models. Overall, (37.4%) of pregnant women reported experiencing childbirth fear. Sociodemographic of age, educational
level, and employment status (all p>.05) were not significant correlates of childbirth fear. Majority (69.9%) of pregnant women adopted appropriate preventive practices. The study concluded that pregnant women are actively employing informational, emotional, and faith-based approaches to cope with childbirth-related anxiety. It was recommended among others that healthcare providers should routinely screen pregnant women attending antenatal clinics for childbirth fear to enable early identification and appropriate support.