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Severe fear of childbirth indicates high perinatal costs for Swedish women giving birth to their first child
- Source :
- Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica. 96(4)
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Introduction The objective of this study was to calculate costs associated with severe fear of childbirth (FOC) during pregnancy and peripartum by comparing two groups of women expecting their first child and attending an ordinary antenatal program; one with low FOC and one with severe FOC. Material and methods In a prospective case–control cohort study one group with low FOC [Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) sum score ≤60, n = 107] and one with severe FOC (W-DEQ ≥85, n = 43) were followed up till 3 months postpartum and included in the analysis. Medical records were assessed and medical parameters were mapped. Mean costs for healthcare consumption and sick leave during pregnancy were calculated and compared. Results When means were compared between the groups, the group with severe FOC had more visits for psychosocial reasons (p = 0.001) and more hours on sick leave (p = 0.03) during pregnancy, and stayed longer at the maternity ward (p = 0.04). They also more seldom had normal spontaneous deliveries (p = 0.03), and more often had an elective cesarean section on maternal request (p = 0.02). Postpartum, they more often than the group with low FOC paid visits to the maternity clinic because of complications (p = 0.001) and to the antenatal unit because of adverse childbirth experiences (p = 0.001). The costs for handling women with severe FOC was 38% higher than those for women with low FOC. Conclusion Women with severe FOC generate considerably higher perinatal costs than women with low FOC when handled in care as usual.
- Subjects :
- Adult
medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
Psychometrics
03 medical and health sciences
Young Adult
0302 clinical medicine
Pregnancy
Surveys and Questionnaires
medicine
Childbirth
Humans
Maternal Health Services
030212 general & internal medicine
Young adult
Sweden
030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine
Obstetrics
business.industry
Medical record
Obstetrics and Gynecology
General Medicine
Fear
medicine.disease
Delivery, Obstetric
Obstetric labor complication
Obstetric Labor Complications
Parity
Perinatal Care
Sick leave
Costs and Cost Analysis
Female
business
Psychosocial
Cohort study
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 16000412
- Volume :
- 96
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....d872aa3d821ec2562dc17860dbfdd18a