Fear of Childbirth, Trait Anxiety and Quality Sleep in Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes in Nulliparous Woman

Introduction: Anxiety and fear of childbirth in the last trimester of pregnancy, possibly is associated with complications of obstetrics, negative experiences and increased cesarean delivery. This study was aimed to study about relationship between anxiety, fear of childbirth and quality of sleep in the third trimester of pregnancy and length of labor, induction of labor and method of delivery. Methods: In this prospective longitudinal study, 156 pregnant women (23-30 weeks) 2010 who referred to ten health centers in the Qom-­­Iran were included with simple random method. The predictor variables were the anxiety, fear of childbirth and quality sleep scores measured using the spielbrger's trait anxiety inventory, childbirth attitudes questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index­. The outcome variables were four obstetric complications: induced labor; prolonged labor; emergency cesarean section and method of delivery. Data were analyzed through­­ chi-square test; logistic regression and Pearson correlation ­using SPSS softwareversion 16 was performed. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Relation between trait anxiety in late pregnancy with induced labor and elective caesarean section significant (p=­0.04), (p=­0.001). Women who anxious had an increased risk for elective cesarean section and induced labor (OR=10.3; CI=­1.2–85), (OR=2.1; CI=­1.1–4.5), but not for; ­prolonged labor; emergency cesarean section (p>0.1). Between scores of fear of childbirth and sleep quality with induced labor, ­prolonged labor, emergency and elective caesarean section had not significant relationship (p>0.1). Conclusions: Trait anxiety had significant relation with elective cesarean section and induced labor and high prevalence of caesarean.