Abstract:
Background: Childbirth self-efficacy is pregnant women's perception of their ability to cope
with labor stress. Low childbirth self-efficacy is linked to pain intolerance and poor labor
progression, which increases the possibility of operative deliveries. It also influences how
women feel confident about breastfeeding and how they parent. Ethiopia, however, has limited
related data. So, it is important to identify the variables influencing pregnant women who attend
public health facilities in Arbaminch town.
Objective: To assess childbirth self-efficacy and associated factors among pregnant women
attending antenatal care in public health facilities in Arbaminch town, Southern Ethiopia, in
2023.
Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 422 women from
January 1 and January 30, 2023. A systematic random sampling technique was employed. Data
were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire.
The Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 27, was used for data management and
analysis. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each variable, and the associations between
independent and the outcome variable were determined by the logistic model. Statistical
significance was determined at a p-value of less than 0.05.
Results: About 416 pregnant women participated in the study, with a response rate of 98.6%.
Among the pregnant women, 228 (54.8%) had low childbirth self-efficacy. Age group in ≤24
years (AOR=3.80,95% CI:1.82-8), being primigravida(AOR=1.51,95% CI:1.10-2.86), unplanned
pregnancy(AOR=1.67, 95% CI:1.02-2.70), poor social support(AOR=2.17,95%CI:1.09-4.30),
having anxiety(AOR=1.30, 95% CI:1.10-3.64), having poor knowledge of childbirth
(AOR=2.21, 95% CI:2.09-5.39), having never husband involvements (AOR=4.56 CI 95%(2.30-
8.90) and sever fear of childbirth(AOR=6.40,95% CI:2.60-9.80) were statistically significant
with low childbirth self-efficacy.
Conclusions: The magnitude of low childbirth self-efficacy was high in the study area. Being
primigravida, having a unplanned pregnancy, age ≤24 year, having sever fear of childbirth,
anxiety, having never supportive husband, poor social support, and having poor knowledge were
significantly associated to childbirth self-efficacy. Therefore, giving special attention to these factors during antenatal care would be important
