Swedish midwives' views on severe fear of childbirth

To describe the views of Swedish midwives on severe fear of childbirth (SFOC).

In this cross sectional study, a random sample of 1000 midwives, selected from the database of the Swedish Association of Midwives, received a questionnaire. The response rate was 84% (n=834), with 726 questionnaires included in the final analysis.

The views of midwives on SFOC in different contexts of work: antenatal care clinic (ACC), labour ward (LW) either ACC/LW or Neither-Nor ACC/LW.

The majority of respondents thought that the frequency of SFOC has increased during the last 10 years (67%), and that pregnant women today are more likely to discuss their fears (70%). Midwives at ACCs thought that special education in SFOC is needed (p<0.001) and that they have more responsibility to identify women with SFOC (p<0.001) than midwives at LWs. The majority of respondents, both at ACCs (60%) and LWs (65%), intuitively sensed when they were meeting a woman with SFOC. Opinions among midwives who alternate between working in ACCs and LWs reflected the views of the midwives working either in an ACC or an LW.

The views of midwives on SFOC are partly in concordance and partly contradictory in relation to the different workplaces as well as research data. Knowledge of the views of midwives on SFOC is a necessary pre-requisite to improve care for pregnant women.