Causes and frequency of tocophobia - own experiences

The phenomenon of tocophobia (pathological fear of labor) has not been fully explored. Currently, there are no diagnostic criteria that would enable its detection or make it recognizable as a disease entity. The aim of study was to determine the degree of anxiety/tocophobia as well as to learn about and analyze the causes of this phenomenon in Polish pregnant women.

The prospective study included 120 pregnant women in the third trimester of gestation from February to May 2016. The study was performed with the use of a standardized and revised version of the Labor Anxi-ety Questionnaire (KLP II) designed by Putyński and Paciorek (1997) as well as a proprietary interview questionnaire and structured data documentation form.

In 6.7% of the subjects, the level of labor anxiety was very high (> 18 in KLP II). It was the highest in women over 30 years of age (Pearson's chi squared test = 0.00422; p < 0.05). It has been shown that successive childbirths have an im-pact on the degree of anxiety (p = 0.04217).The highest level of anxiety was noted in primiparous women. In 85% of the subjects, anxiety was caused by fear of labor pain. 56.7% of the tested women did not use any professional help in the preparation for childbirth and motherhood.

Primiparas and women over 30 years of age experience very high levels of fear significantly more frequently. The lack of proper preparation for childbirth determines the occurrence of tocophobia. Ante-natal classes and prenatal education based on standards of obstetric care should be promoted in order to reduce or eliminate fear of natural labor.