Bibi Leila Hoseini, Abbas Ebadi, Ali Mashhadi, Mohammad Hassan Rakhshani, Raheleh Babazadeh
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Anxiety disorders with a specific focus on fear of childbirth (FOC) are the most common mental health challenges in perinatal women. The accurate measurement of FOC is important for correctly identifying women with FOC, as well as for identifying the target population for treatment. We aimed to review FOC scales and evaluate their psychometric properties via the COSMIN methodology to identify the most suitable available instruments.
Methods: We conducted this systematic review via a comprehensive search of databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct and ProQuest, to identify articles published from inception to May 2024 via combined keywords related to tools that assess FOC in women during pregnancy or postpartum period. The quality of the psychometric properties of the included studies was evaluated via the COSMIN checklist.
Results: Of the 1160 records found initially, 47 articles were included in this review, 24 of which were related to the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ). According to the recommended categorization of the COSMIN methodology, among the 18 assessed scales, the Fear of Childbirth Questionnaire (FCQ) was categorized as A, and 11 scales, including the Fear-of-delivery Questionnaire (FDQ), W-DEQ-A & B, Delivery Fear Scale (DFS), Fear of Birth Scale (FOBS), Birth Anticipation Scale (BAS), Childbirth Fear Questionnaire (CFQ), Childbirth Fear Scale (CSF), Slade-Pais Expectations of Childbirth Scale (SPECS), and unnamed tools by Melender et al. (2005) and Eriksson et al. (2005) were categorized as B.
Conclusion: According to the findings, the FCQ can be recommended for evaluating pregnant women with FOC. The measures categorized as B are potentially recommended for use, but further research is needed to evaluate the quality of this group.
期刊介绍：
Reproductive Health focuses on all aspects of human reproduction. The journal includes sections dedicated to adolescent health, female fertility and midwifery and all content is open access.
Reproductive health is defined as a state of physical, mental, and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system, at all stages of life. Good reproductive health implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so. Men and women should be informed about and have access to safe, effective, affordable, and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, and the right to appropriate health-care services that enable women to safely go through pregnancy and childbirth.
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