Abstract:Background: This study examined the effectiveness of a birth preparation course on coping with childbirth among primigravid ultra-orthodox Jewish women in Israel. Methods: In total, 130 ultra-orthodox 25–35-week primigravid women were divided into a study (n = 100, participated in birth preparation courses) and a control (n = 30, did not participate in the courses) group. A questionnaire was delivered three times: T1—before the course/delivery, T2—two–three days after delivery, and T3—a month after delivery. R… Show more
Background
Upright labor positions and movement during labor have a positive effect on childbirth, yet the predominant labor positions are still horizontal. Therefore, it is important to explore how it is possible to improve childbirth education, particularly its instructional design, to strengthen women’s self-efficacy toward the use of upright positions and mobility during labor. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of an instructional approach based on a cognitive engagement ICAP (Interactive, Constructive, Active, Passive) framework on the development of knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy expectations toward upright positions and mobility during labor.
Methods
A prospective quasi-experimental study was conducted among nulliparous women from the ultra-orthodox Jewish community (n = 74). While the control group (n = 34) participated in routine childbirth education, the intervention group (n = 36) learned with childbirth education that included interactive and constructive cognitive engagement activities. Participants in both groups completed a set of questionnaires regarding knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy.
Results
The post-test analysis revealed that women in the intervention group compared to the control group gained significantly higher knowledge scores (p < 0.05), more positive attitudes (p < 0.001), and stronger self-efficacy expectations toward upright positions and mobility during labor (p < 0.01).
Conclusions
The findings suggest that by fostering women’s cognitive engagement levels during childbirth education toward the interactive and constructive modes of the ICAP framework, women’s self-efficacy to move during labor and to use upright positions can be induced. These results can serve as a foundation to improve the overall effectiveness of childbirth instruction.
Trial registration
The study was registered retrospectively.
Background
Upright labor positions and movement during labor have a positive effect on childbirth, yet the predominant labor positions are still horizontal. Therefore, it is important to explore how it is possible to improve childbirth education, particularly its instructional design, to strengthen women’s self-efficacy toward the use of upright positions and mobility during labor. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of an instructional approach based on a cognitive engagement ICAP (Interactive, Constructive, Active, Passive) framework on the development of knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy expectations toward upright positions and mobility during labor.
Methods
A prospective quasi-experimental study was conducted among nulliparous women from the ultra-orthodox Jewish community (n = 74). While the control group (n = 34) participated in routine childbirth education, the intervention group (n = 36) learned with childbirth education that included interactive and constructive cognitive engagement activities. Participants in both groups completed a set of questionnaires regarding knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy.
Results
The post-test analysis revealed that women in the intervention group compared to the control group gained significantly higher knowledge scores (p < 0.05), more positive attitudes (p < 0.001), and stronger self-efficacy expectations toward upright positions and mobility during labor (p < 0.01).
Conclusions
The findings suggest that by fostering women’s cognitive engagement levels during childbirth education toward the interactive and constructive modes of the ICAP framework, women’s self-efficacy to move during labor and to use upright positions can be induced. These results can serve as a foundation to improve the overall effectiveness of childbirth instruction.
Trial registration
The study was registered retrospectively.
Fear of childbirth is a common feeling experienced by pregnant women, and it can occur before, during, or after childbirth. Intense fear has a detrimental effect on physical and psychological statuses of the pregnant women. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the effectiveness of a nurse-led program together with the mobile phone application to enhance pregnant adolescents’ childbirth self-efficacy and reduce their fear of childbirth. The sample was pregnant adolescents receiving antenatal care in a regional hospital in Southern Thailand. Using the minimization procedure, pregnant adolescents were assigned to either an experimental group receiving the program (n = 64) or a control group receiving routine care (n = 64). The instruments used for data collection consisted of a demographic characteristics form, the Fear of Childbirth in the Third Trimester Questionnaire, and the Thai Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and independent t-test.
The results showed that after completion of the intervention program, the participants in the experimental group had a significantly higher mean score on childbirth self-efficacy and lower fear of childbirth than before the intervention. When comparing the two groups after completion of the program, results showed a significantly higher childbirth self-efficacy mean score, and lower fear of childbirth mean score in the experimental group than those in the control group. The results indicate that application of childbirth self-efficacy enhancement program can increase self-efficacy and reduce fear of childbirth in pregnant adolescents. Therefore, it is a promising program for caring pregnant adolescents but needs to be tested with other samples before implementation in practice.
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