Midwifery Students’ Traumatic Childbirth Experiences, Traumatic Childbirth Perceptions, and Levels of Fear of Childbirth

Abstract

IntroductionAlthough childbirth is generally seen as a positive phenomenon, negative childbirth events can be experienced as well. Midwifery students are at risk of encountering traumatic events throughout their education. The primary aim of this research was to reveal midwifery students’ experiences of witnessing traumatic events at childbirth. The secondary aim was to determine the effects of traumatic childbirth experiences witnessed by midwifery students on their traumatic childbirth perceptions and levels of fear of childbirth.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study was conducted between January 1 and June 30, 2021. The study sample consisted of 517 midwifery students in Turkey. Data were collected using a descriptive information form, the Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale (TCPS), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for measuring fear of childbirth.ResultsThe majority (88%) of students witnessed a traumatic event at childbirth. The mean (SD) TCPS score was 59.7 (26.1), and the level of fear of childbirth measured with VAS was 5.1 (2.7). A moderate positive correlation was found between the VAS score and TCPS scores (r = .63; P < .001). Although the mean TCPS scores of students who witnessed a traumatic event were not signficiantly different from those who did not, their mean VAS score was higher than those who did not (P = .001). Among students who experiences traumatic events at childbirth, 35.8% stated that the traumatic events negatively affected their education, and 65.6% reported that they thought it would negatively affect their future professional life.DiscussionWitnessing traumatic events at childbirth is associated with increased perception of childbirth as traumatic and fear of childbirth in midwifery students. Traumatic experiences can affect midwifery students’ educational and professional lives. Educators in the field of midwifery should support students in coping with traumas.