Table 1 Characteristics of included studies on Fear of Childbirth

Adams 2012 [80]

S

To assess the association between FOC and duration of labour

Prospective cohort study, using postal survey at 32 weeks

All women scheduled to give birth at a University hospital Nov 2008-April 2010

2206 (63.0)

Norway

Elvander 2013 [63]

M

To estimate the effects of different levels of fear of birth and mode of delivery on birth experience 1 month after birth

Prospective study, using telephone interviews in the third trimester of pregnancy and 1 month after birth

Nulliparous English and Spanish-speaking women aged 18–35, with a single fetus, who birthed >34 weeks’, recruited in a variety of ways, in 2009–2011

3005 (NA)

Number eligible not mentioned

USA

Eriksson 2005 [71]

S

To investigate and compare experiential factors associated with childbirth-related fear in women (and men)

Cross-sectional observational study, using postal survey 14–26 months postnatal. FOC was assessed retrospectively

All women who had a baby in a University hospital, March 1997–March 1998

410 (73.5)

Sweden

Fabian 2004 [73]

M

To investigate the attendance rate at childbirth and parenthood education classes // and describe the characteristics of women who did not attend

Cohort study using a postal questionnaire in early pregnancy and at 2 months postpartum

All women attending 97% of all antenatal clinics in Sweden for 1 week in May and September 1999, and January 2000

2546 (55.0)

Sweden

Fenwick 2009 [77]

M

To investigate levels of pre- and postpartum of childbirth fear in a cohort of childbearing women and explore the relationship to birth outcomes

A prospective correlation design using postal surveys at 36 weeks’ gestation and 6 weeks’ postpartum

All women (English-speaking with a single healthy fetus) attending antenatal clinic at a tertiary hospital, September 2005–March 2006

401 (43.0)

Australia

Geissbuehler 2002 [69]

M

To examine the intensity and type of childbirth fears among pregnant women in the 2nd-3rd trimester //

to consider whether birth preparation influences childbirth anxiety

Cross-sectional, self-administered survey in 24th–28th weeks

All women booked to give birth in a large hospital, November 1991–October 1999

8528 (79.1)

Switzerland

Haines 2011 [67]

S

To examine the prevalence of childbirth-related fear (CBRF) in two rural populations (Sweden and Australia) and to pilot a short easy-to-administer tool

Cross-sectional study, using postal survey at 18 weeks gestation

Women undergoing routine ultrasound at 17–19 weeks at a regional Swedish hospital during 2007 and women booked booked at 18–20 weeks in an Australian regional hospital, year not described

509 (NA)

(Sweden: n = 386 and Australia: n = 123)

Number eligible not mentioned

Sweden and Australia

Hall 2009 [85]

S

To explore women’s levels of childbirth fear, sleep deprivation, anxiety, and fatigue and their relationships during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy

Cross-sectional using surveys at term in a convenience sample at 35–39 weeks

English speaking low-risk women at 35–39 weeks gestation from May 2005–July 2007

650 (NA)

Number eligible not mentioned

Canada

Heimstad 2006 [78]

M

To estimate prevalence of FOC in a defined area in Norway and to study the possible relationship between FOC and psychosocial background, degree of anxiety and abuse

Cross-sectional study, using postal questionnaires at 18–20 weeks

All pregnant women scheduled for a routine ultrasound at a University Hospital, June 2001–August 2002

1452 (54.2)

Norway

Hildingsson 2010 [60]

S

To describe and study background characteristics, feelings and support in relation to thoughts about childbirth in mid-pregnancy

Cross-sectional study, using self-administered surveys at 17–19 weeks

All pregnant women who had a routine ultrasound at three hospitals in one region, year 2007

1212 (51.4)

Sweden

Jespersen 2014 [81]

S

To assess the association between FOC and emergency caesarean section

Prospective cohort study using 2 questionnaires; at 37 weeks gestation and at admission to labour ward

All nulliparous, pregnant low risk women in spontaneous labour at 4 major university hospitals, 3 country hospitals and 2 local district departments, May 2004–July 2005

2598 (71.1)

Denmark

Jokić-Begić 2014 [82]

S

To examine the role of demographic variables, expected pain level, trait anxiety and anxiety sensitivity in FOC among nulliparous and multi-parous women in the last trimester of pregnancy

Cross-sectional/single cohort study using one questionnaire in 8th–9th months of pregnancy

Pregnant women attending at a perinatal clinic at one University hospital in Zagreb, Jan-May 2012

200 (67.6)

Croatia

Laursen 2008 [64]

M

To describe the association between FOC and social, demographics and psychological factors in healthy nulliparous women with uncomplicated pregnancies

Population-based prospective cohort study

(pre-post design), using telephone interviews at 16 and 32 weeks

All nulliparous women with uncomplicated pregnancies, 1997–2003

30,480 (approx. 30%)

Denmark

Lowe 2000 [74]

M

To test whether the theoretically predicted inverse relationship between childbirth self-efficacy and fear exists, and to characterize specific personality attributes associated with women who express low or high FOC

Cross-sectional cohort study (secondary analysis), using the Childbirth Attitudes Questionnaire distributed in the third trimester and returned by post

Nulliparous women enrolled in childbirth education classes, year for data collection not described

280 (NA)

Number eligible not mentioned

USA

Lukasse 2014 [62]

M

To assess the prevalence of severe FOC and investigate the association between severe FOC and selected background variables

Cohort study, using a self-completed survey in pregnancy at varying times

Pregnant women attending antenatal care in 6 countries between March 2008–August 2010

6870;

828 (B)

585 (I),

1252 (D)

896 (E)

2351 (N)

958 (S)

(NA)

Belgium,

Norway, Iceland, Denmark Estonia

Sweden

Nieminen 2009 [79]

M

Investigate the prevalence of intense FOC, association between the level of FOC and gestational age, the risk factors for intense FOC in primi and multiparous, and risk factors associated with preference for caesarean section

Cross-sectional, using a self-completed survey in pregnancy

All Swedish speaking primi and multiparous women in four districts, September–October 2006

1635 (98.3)

Sweden

Nilsson 2012 [61]

S

To explore FOC during pregnancy and 1 year after birth and its association with birth experience and mode of birth

A population based prospective longitudinal survey (pre and post design), using postal surveys in mid and late pregnancy, 2 months and 1 year postpartum

All pregnant women who had a routine ultrasound at three hospitals in one region, year 2007

(Same population as in Hildingsson 2010)

763 (86)

Sweden

Poikkeus 2006 [75]

M

To compare the prevalence and predictors of severe FOC and pregnancy related anxiety in groups of assisted reproduction treatment (ART) and spontaneously conceiving women with singleton pregnancies

Prospective longitudinal study with cohort (ART) and matched control (consecutive enrolment) groups, using a self-completed survey at 20 weeks

ART group = 367, and consecutive controls = 379, year 1999

746 (86.6)

Finland

Rouhe 2015 [65]

S

To assess effects of psycho-education versus conventional care during pregnancy in women with FOC

All nulliparous women at time of routine ultrasound at 11–13 weeks.

371 women with severe FOC participated in an RCT

using psycho-education as relaxation (6 sessions during pregnancy, one postnatal) and conventional care by community nurses

Questionnaires completed twice during pregnancy and/or 3 months postpartum

4575 screened by W-DEQ for severe FOC during routine ultra-sonography at 11–13 weeks. Those with scores >100 were included in the trial, in October 2007–August 2009

4575 (NA)

Number eligible not mentioned

Finland

Räisänen 2014 [66]

S

To identify risk factors for FOC and evaluate relation between FOC and adverse perinatal outcomes

Cohort register study, using The Finnish Medical Birth Register, with FOC defined according to ICD – code 099.80

All singleton births during 1997–2010

788,317 (100?)

Finland

Söderqvist 2004 [83]

S

To investigate association between traumatic stress symptoms and FOC in late pregnancy

Cohort using self-completed survey at week 32

Consecutive recruitment of pregnant women visiting hospital in Kalmar and Linköping, in 1997

951 (48.2)

Sweden

Ternström 2014 [72]

S

To investigate the prevalence of childbirth-related fear in early pregnancy among Swedish and foreign-born women living in Sweden

Cross-sectional study of a total population attending ultrasound screening, using a self-completed questionnaire at 17–20 weeks

University hospital, 615 women screened during routine ultra-sonography, and asked to participate, year not described

606 (96.2)

Sweden

Waldenström 2006 [70]

M

To investigate the prevalence of FOC in a nationwide sample and its association with subsequent rates of CS and overall experience of childbirth

A longitudinal national cohort study, using postal survey at 16 weeks gestation and 2 months postpartum

All pregnant women invited to participate at 16th week gestation and at 2 months postpartum, 3 weeks: May and September 1999 and January 2000

2662 (97.0)

Sweden

Zar 2002 [84]

S

To investigate the prevalence of extreme FOC and anxiety disorders in late pregnancy

Prospective study using postal survey at week 28–30 and interview at 32 weeks

Pregnant women from a country hospital were invited to participate, during 8 months, year not described

506 (82.5)

Sweden