The effectiveness of a program based on acceptance and commitment therapy in reducing fear of childbirth and improving self-efficacy among primiparous women

Abstract

A pregnant woman faces many concerns about her pregnancy, childbirth, and the safety of her child, which may affect the outcome of pregnancy and childbirth, so the current study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a program based on acceptance and commitment therapy in reducing fear of childbirth and improving self-efficacy among pregnant women. The quasi-experimental method was used in the study. It was conducted on ten primiparous pregnant women. The data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire, a fear of childbirth scale and a childbirth self-efficacy scale (prepared by the researcher).They were completed by the group before and after the intervention, and one month later of follow-up. The results indicated, after intervention, a decreased fear of childbirth and increased self-efficacy, while the differences in fear of childbirth and self-efficacy in the post and follow-up measurements were not significant. These results indicate the effectiveness of the program based on acceptance and commitment therapy in reducing fear of childbirth and improving efficiency among pregnant women.