Pregnancy and Childbirth Fear of Women from Poland, Greece, Turkey, Belarus, and Russia

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Pregnancy and childbirth in many women cause various situations, from physical to emotional. The analysis of selected factors affecting pregnancy and childbirth in a group of women from Poland, Greece, Turkey, Belarus, and Russia and self-assessment of their impact on fear of pregnancy and childbirth. Material and Methods: A total of 2017 women were surveyed, including 584 pregnant women, 528 postpartum women, and 906 non-pregnant and never-pregnant women. The study used an original questionnaire, including questions on socio-demographics and the history of pregnancy and childbirth. The material status of the respondents was assessed using the Family Affluence Scale. Results: The age range of respondents was 19–50. The surveyed women most often reported (p < 0.001) fear (n = 928) and excitement (n = 901). A positive correlation was found between anemia, infections, and fear in women from Belarus. No correlation was found between low, average, or high material status and the perception of pregnancy in women from the studied countries. Significantly (p < 0.001), women from Turkey had more children (p < 0.001) than women from other countries. With the exception of Russia, statistical correlations were shown between the feeling of fear of pregnancy and childbirth and the way the previous/current pregnancy was delivered and the experience of an artificial/natural miscarriage in the past. In general, 630 women had given birth vaginally, and 283 women had given birth by cesarean section. In the group of currently pregnant women, 22 women had had natural miscarriages in Belarus, 37 in Poland, 27 in Greece, 29 in Turkey, and 9 in Russia. Conclusions: When thinking about pregnancy, respondents in all groups most often felt joy and excitement, as well as fear and excitement, about childbirth. Natural miscarriage was experienced most frequently by women in Poland and Greece and induced in Belarus. The largest number of women who had cesarean section were from Poland and Belarus.