FEAR OF CHILDBIRTH AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN KONSO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA, 202

Abstract

Background- Fear of childbirth (FOC) is a feeling of insecurity and anxiousness before, during, and after childbirth. Almost all pregnant women encounter this problem regardless of their country's development status and previous experience.This study was aimed to assess magnitude of Fear of childbirth and its associated factors among pregnant women attending public health facilities in Konso zone southern Ethiopia. Methods -Facility based cross-sectional study design containing qualitative and quantitative data collection method was used from March 6-April 20, 2022. Study subjects were, selected by systematic sampling depending on the proportional allocation of the sample to each health facilities, selected by lottery method. Data were, collected from 398 participants using face-to face interview for Quantitative and in-depth interview for qualitative data. Quantitative data was, entered into Epi Data entry client (V4.4.3.1) and exported to SPSS version 25.0 for analysis. Qualitative data collected by audio recording of in-depth interview of women waiting for labor categorized in to themes after listening and reading the transcript of each participant. Result- Out of the 407 total samples, 398 women were participated in the study, giving 97.78% response rate. Among the study participants majority 215(54%) of them were ≥25 years old. The mean for participants‘ age was 27 ± 6 SD and the Magnitude of FOC was 21.6% (95% CI: 18% - 26%). Mistreatment in health care system (AOR=2.274%, 95% CI :( 1.286-4.021) P=0.005), prior labor complication (AOR=2.562%, 95% CI(1.382-4.749)(p=0.003), Age <25 (AOR=3.604%, 95% CI: (1.1170-11.1) (p=0.025), Gestational age >26 (AOR= 3.132 %, 95% CI :( 1.498-6.545) (p=0.002), Episiotomy (AOR=2.682%, 95% CI: (1.474-4.88) (P=0.001), and social-support(AOR=3.017%, 95% CI:(1.501- 6.065) (P=0.002) were factors significantly associated with FOC. An in-depth interview supports the finding. Conclusion and recommendation- Study found that magnitude of FOC is considerable among pregnant women Konso zone. Care providers have to be sensitive to it, and pay attention to pregnant women‘s age, Gestational age, and previous delivery complication. It needs to empower, and involve all reproductive age women in health issues related to pregnancy, birth as well as providing training for all health care providers on maternity care and rights of women to alleviate and foster a smooth relationship between health care providers and maternity care user