A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE FEAR OF CHILDBIRTH AND CHILDBIRTH EXPERIENCE OF PREGNANT WOMEN WITH PRIMIPAROUS PREGNANCIES IN TURKISH AND KURDISH ETHNICITIES REFERRING TO COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CENTERS IN NAQDEH CITY IN 2021

Women gain important experiences during birthing which will remain with them throughout their lives. Fear of childbirth, both during pregnancy and after childbirth, leads to negative experiences of childbirth. On the other hand, ethnicity can play a role in increasing or decreasing pregnancy outcomes and experiences. This study aimed to compare childbirth experiences and fear of childbirth in two ethnicities, Kurdish and Turkish women, in Naqdeh.

This descriptive and analytical study was conducted on 630 pregnant women with Kurdish and Turkish ethnic groups referred to Comprehensive Health Centers in Naqd in 2021. The data collection tool was a demographic questionnaire, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (WDEQ) versions A and B, and Childbirth Experience questionnaire. To conduct the study, in each center the list of pregnant women is extracted by the Sib system; and then, the questionnaires were completed through telephone interviews. Completing the questionnaires were done in two stages. In the first stage, the WDEQ versions A was completed from 32-36 weeks of pregnancy in both groups. In the second stage, which was done one month after giving birth, the the WDEQ versions B was completed. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 software, and using descriptive statistical tests, Mann-Whitney test, paired t test, independent t test, and correlation coefficient test.

The difference in the mean score of fear of childbirth before and after delivery between two groups of Turkish and Kurdish pregnant women was statistically significant at the level of 0.05%, as the average score of fear of childbirth in Kurdish women was lower than that of Turkish women. The average score of childbirth experience in the group of Kurdish women (67.87 ± 4.26) was much higher than the group of Turkish women (55.69 ± 5.88). The average score of childbirth experience had an inverse correlation with the fear of childbirth before and after childbirth, which was significant at the error level of 0.05. The greater the fear before and after delivery, the more negative the delivery experience.

There is an inverse and significant correlation between the intensity of fear of childbirth and the experience gained from the childbirth process in primiparous women. The mean experience and fear of childbirth among Kurdish and Turkish pregnant women have differed. It seems that the experience and fear of childbirth in women is influenced by several factors such as ethnic, cultural, social, and environmental influences.