The Comparison of the Effect of Childbirth Preparation Classes and Spirituality‐Based Counseling on Childbirth Fear Among Nulliparous Pregnant Women: A Quasi‐Experimental Study

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Fear of childbirth is a common issue during pregnancy. This study aimed to compare the effects of childbirth preparation classes and spirituality‐based counseling on the levels of childbirth fear in primiparous pregnant women. Methods This quasi‐experimental study involved 90 primiparous pregnant women. Participants were randomly selected and were subsequently divided into three groups: (A) childbirth preparation classes ( n  = 30), (B) spirituality‐based counseling ( n  = 30), and (C) a control group ( n  = 30). Group A participated in 8 weekly sessions of childbirth preparation classes in addition to routine care. Group B attended 8 weekly sessions of spirituality‐based counseling in addition to routine care, and Group C received only routine care. Three groups completed the delivery expectancy/experience questionnaire before, 1 week after, and 5 weeks after the intervention. Results Before the intervention, the mean scores of fear of childbirth were 50.97 ± 4.75, 53.23 ± 4.87, and 53.03 ± 5.12 in the A, B, and C groups, respectively, and there were no statistically significant differences in the mean scores of fear of childbirth among the three groups. One week after the intervention, the mean scores for fear of childbirth were significantly lower in the A and the B groups compared with the C group (40.20 ± 4.97 and 43.06 ± 10.14 vs. 54.66 ± 5.60, p  < 0.001) and no significant statistical difference was seen between the A and B groups. Five weeks after the intervention, the mean scores for fear of childbirth were significantly lower in the A and the B groups compared with the C group (35.26 ± 4.20, 30.50 ± 6.13, p  < 0.001), and a significant statistical difference was seen between group A and B ( p  = 0.001) with a greater reduction in group B. Conclusion Both spirituality‐based counseling and childbirth preparation classes reduced levels of fear of childbirth in pregnant women.