Medo do parto: possibilidades para avaliar e intervir

Abstract

Introduction: Childbirth is a physiological process that involves physical, emotional, psychological, social and cultural aspects. This experience is expected to be positive with the birth of a healthy baby in a safe environment, emotional and practical support, and a qualified healthcare team. Many pregnant women report fear related to childbirth, fear of not bonding with the baby, of how professionals will act, and of feeling alone. Fear of childbirth is defined as intense anxiety that affects well-being and daily activities. Its repercussions include an increase in spontaneous abortions, higher rates of elective cesarean sections, and epidural analgesia. Identifying pregnant women who experience this fear and understanding its causes is essential for implementing care strategies to reduce these feelings and promote self-confidence. Objective: To understand women's perceptions of their experience during labor, to investigate the influence of the Oficina do Parto (OP) on labor and childbirth and to translate and validate the Fear of Childbirth Questionnaire (FCQ) into Brazilian Portuguese. Method: A qualitative and a methodological study were conducted. The first involved pregnant women who participated in OP, and who answered a semi-structured interview during the postpartum period. The results were interpreted using content analysis principles. The methodological study involved pregnant women using public health services at the Federal University of Minas Gerais. The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the FCQ followed the stages proposed by Beaton et al. (2000) and the COSMIN guidelines. Content validity and internal consistency reliability were assessed according to COSMIN criteria. Construct validity was evaluated through the clustering of fear types proposed by the authors of the original questionnaire. Results: Nine women participated in the qualitative study and two thematic axes were identified: 1) Pregnant women's perceptions of the OP contribution to labor and childbirth and 2) Postpartum women's experiences regarding the participation of a companion during labor and childbirth. In the methodological study, after translation and cross-cultural adaptation, 100 pregnant women completed the FCQ. Content validation of the FCQ-BR showed adequate CVI for clarity, comprehensiveness and relevance. Construct validity was moderate to low. Internal consistency was high. Conclusion: The OP facilitated communication, access to information and knowledge exchange between professionals and pregnant women. Participants reported both facilitators and barriers to applying the knowledge during childbirth, mostly related to the performance of the healthcare team. The FCQ-BR proved to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing fear of childbirth among Brazilian pregnant women.