Effect of Emotional Freedom Technique on Fear of Childbirth and Stress among Primiparous Women during the First Stage of Labor

Abstract

: Fear of childbirth refers to feelings of uncertainty and anxiety before, during, or postpartum that have negative childbirth outcomes. Emotional Freedom Technique is a psychophysiological intervention that helps in reducing fear of childbirth, posttraumatic stress disorder, improving the individual‟s negative emotions and managing associated physical disorders. Aim: evaluate the effect of Emotional Freedom Technique on fear of childbirth and stress among primiparous women during the first stage of labor. Design: Quasi experimental study was used. Study sample: A purposive sample of one hundred and two primiparous women was allocated to either the intervention or the control group, with 51 women in each group. Tools of data collection: Three tools were used; a structured interview questionnaire, childbirth attitudes questionnaire & subjective units of distress scale. Results: The present study findings showed that in the latent, active & transitional phases of labor after applying Emotional Freedom Technique, there were highly statistically significant decrease in fear of childbirth and stress of childbirth in favor of the intervention group (p= 0.001). Conclusion: Emotional Freedom was an effective technique in reducing primiparous women‟s fear of childbirth & stress at the first stage of labor. Recommendations : Utilization of Emotional Freedom Technique as a routine care to reduce fear of childbirth and stress among primiparous women during labor.