Effect of group psycho education intervention on child birth fear, self-efficacy for childbirth and parenting among primi women in selected hospitals of Kathmandu valley.

Research Report.

ABSTRACT: Background: Child birth fear among Primi women has impact on low child birth efficacy and initial parenting preparedness. Few intervention designs are carried out in developed countries to address child birth fear. This study aims to screen for child birth fear among Primi women and to measure the effectiveness of group psycho education counselling. Methods: This study followed one group pretest-post test quasi experimental design. The study was conducted in antenatal OPD of two tertiary level hospitals which were Teaching Hospital and Bajrabarahi Hospital. Data were collected from March to April 2020. Total 307 primi women were included in the study. Before data collection ethical approval was obtained from NHRC. Research team members collected data through individual interview method. Fear of childbirth was assessed by using a validated scale Women Delivery Expectant Questionnaire (WDEQ scale-33 item questions). From total 76 (24.8 %) pregnant women with moderate score on fear of childbirth 52 (17%) were further included on group psycho-education intervention led by trained nurses. Data were collected on a self-efficacy scale for child birth and parenting scale and were kept confidentially by research team members. Data were entered and coded into SPSS version 20. Initially descriptive statistics were calculated and differences in mean score between pre- intervention and post -intervention score were compared by using paired t- test. Results: Moderate level of child birth fear was identified among 24.8 % of respondents and 75.2% had a low level of child birth fear. Before providing intervention mean score (in percent) on Child birth fear was 54.04 ± 2.09 and was 47.88± 2.44 (<0.001) after intervention. Before intervention mean score on child birth efficacy (in percent) was 78.04 ± 28.64 and was 105.21(in percent) ± 19.62 (<0.001) after intervention. Before the intervention the mean score on parenting skills was 2.30 ± 0.13 and was 3.83 ± 0.29 (<0.001) after intervention. Besides nurses have realized for the need for training on group psycho-education counseling to provide antenatal counselling effectively. Conclusions: Group Psycho education have a statistically significant effect on reducing child birth fear and increasing child birth- efficacy and parenting skills among Primi women Findings also support the need for continuous training to the nurses for providing effective group psychoeducation intervention. Key words: Child birth Fear, Primi women, Self efficacy for child -birth, parenting skills