The Effect of Birth Preparation Classes on Knowledge, Attitude, and Preference of Delivery Type in Primiparous Mothers in Kaboudar Ahang City 2020

Background & objectives: One of the reasons for women's desire to choose cesarean section is a lack of sufficient knowledge and a negative attitude toward natural childbirth. This quasi-experimental study aimed to investigate the effect of childbirth preparation classes on the knowledge, attitude, and preference of the type of delivery of nulliparous mothers. Methods: A total of 100 primiparous mothers without definite indication for cesarean section with a gestational age of more than 19 weeks from the comprehensive health centers of Kaboudar Ahang City were divided into two experimental and control groups by multi-stage sampling and then through allocation sequence. The intervention group participated in 12 hours of group counseling sessions (8 sessions of 90 minutes, 45 minutes of theory, and 45 minutes of practice). Education includes the benefits of natural childbirth, the risks of cesarean section, postpartum's health and care, warning signs and exercise, grief, breastfeeding education, pregnancy modification, stretching exercises, breathing exercises, relaxation, and the role of the wife during pregnancy. The control group received only routine care. Demographic and midwifery information, knowledge, attitude, and preference for the type of delivery before and after the study were completed and compared within the two groups. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of mean age, level of education, employment status, insurance coverage, and household income. The mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and frequency of choice of delivery method in both groups before the start of the study did not show a statistically significant difference. After the intervention, the mean scores of attitude and knowledge in the intervention group increased with a statistically significant difference ( p =0.001). At the end of the study, 83% of the intervention group and 56.2% of the control group preferred to give birth by vaginal delivery ( p =0.015). Conclusion: Childbirth preparation classes can help build positive awareness and attitude towards natural childbirth and help to prefer childbirth consciously.