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Testing the birth attitude profile scale in a Swedish sample of women with fear of birth

Hildingsson, Ingegerd and Rubertsson, Christine LU (2021) In Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology 42(2). p.132-139
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the "Birth Attitude Profile Scale (BAPS)" in a selected sample of women with fear of birth. Another aim was to develop profiles of women according to their birth attitudes and levels of childbirth fear in relation to background characteristics.Methods: A secondary analysis of data collected in two different samples of women with fear of birth. Data were collected by a questionnaire in gestational week 36 and background data from mid-pregnancy. A principal component analysis and a cluster analysis were performed of the combined sample of 195 women.Results: The principal component analysis revealed four domains of the BAPS: "personal impact, birth as a natural event, freedom of choice and... (More)
Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the "Birth Attitude Profile Scale (BAPS)" in a selected sample of women with fear of birth. Another aim was to develop profiles of women according to their birth attitudes and levels of childbirth fear in relation to background characteristics.Methods: A secondary analysis of data collected in two different samples of women with fear of birth. Data were collected by a questionnaire in gestational week 36 and background data from mid-pregnancy. A principal component analysis and a cluster analysis were performed of the combined sample of 195 women.Results: The principal component analysis revealed four domains of the BAPS: "personal impact, birth as a natural event, freedom of choice and safety concerns". When adding the fear of birth scale, two clusters were identified: one with strong attitudes and lower fear, labeled "self-determiners"; and one with no strong attitudes but high levels of fear, labeled "fearful." Women in the "Fearful" cluster more often reported previous and current mental health problems, which were the main difference between the clusters.Conclusion: The BAPS instrument seems to be useful in identifying birth attitudes in women with fear of birth and could be a basis for discussions and birth planning during pregnancy. Mental health problems were the main difference in cluster membership; therefore, it is important to ask women with fear of childbirth about physical, mental and social aspects of health. In addition, a qualitative approach using techniques such as focus groups or interviews is needed to explore how women come to form their attitudes and beliefs about birth. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology
volume
42
issue
2
pages
132 - 139
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:32081051
  • scopus:85106132336
ISSN
0167-482X
DOI
10.1080/0167482X.2020.1729118
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
cd750251-5828-4e44-b41f-3173deb9fb86
date added to LUP
2020-04-01 16:27:48
date last changed
2024-04-17 06:22:36
@article{cd750251-5828-4e44-b41f-3173deb9fb86,
  abstract     = {{Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the "Birth Attitude Profile Scale (BAPS)" in a selected sample of women with fear of birth. Another aim was to develop profiles of women according to their birth attitudes and levels of childbirth fear in relation to background characteristics.Methods: A secondary analysis of data collected in two different samples of women with fear of birth. Data were collected by a questionnaire in gestational week 36 and background data from mid-pregnancy. A principal component analysis and a cluster analysis were performed of the combined sample of 195 women.Results: The principal component analysis revealed four domains of the BAPS: "personal impact, birth as a natural event, freedom of choice and safety concerns". When adding the fear of birth scale, two clusters were identified: one with strong attitudes and lower fear, labeled "self-determiners"; and one with no strong attitudes but high levels of fear, labeled "fearful." Women in the "Fearful" cluster more often reported previous and current mental health problems, which were the main difference between the clusters.Conclusion: The BAPS instrument seems to be useful in identifying birth attitudes in women with fear of birth and could be a basis for discussions and birth planning during pregnancy. Mental health problems were the main difference in cluster membership; therefore, it is important to ask women with fear of childbirth about physical, mental and social aspects of health. In addition, a qualitative approach using techniques such as focus groups or interviews is needed to explore how women come to form their attitudes and beliefs about birth.}},
  author       = {{Hildingsson, Ingegerd and Rubertsson, Christine}},
  issn         = {{0167-482X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{132--139}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology}},
  title        = {{Testing the birth attitude profile scale in a Swedish sample of women with fear of birth}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2020.1729118}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/0167482X.2020.1729118}},
  volume       = {{42}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}