Psychosocial Determinants of Childbirth Fear Among Asian Women: A Scoping Review.

ingentiumby ingentium

In Discovery Literature.

Publication date: Jun 27, 2025

Background: Fear of childbirth (FOC) or tokophobia has a detrimental impact on women during and after pregnancy. Childbirth fear is multidimensional and may differ across nations and cultures. We aimed to determine the psychosocial determinants of tokophobia among Asians. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases in September 2023. Included were original English-language articles that focused on Asian cohorts. We identified independent variables associated with maternal childbirth fear based on multivariable logistic and linear regression analysis. Results: Twenty-three studies are discussed in this review. We categorized the factors into (1) psychiatry, (2) psychology, (3) perception and experience, (4) relationships and support, (5) spirituality, and (6) COVID-19. The studies involved 10,538 women with overall FOC prevalence ranging between 56. 6% to 82. 1%. Maternal history of psychiatric disorder, depression, and anxiety were positive predictors of childbirth fear. Childbirth self-efficacy protects Asian mothers against tokophobia. A reduced level of fear was associated with higher maternal psychological and spiritual well-being, as well as stronger maternal resilience. Spousal and social support alongside good family function were shown to exert a protective effect against childbirth fear. Intimate partner abuse was associated with an increased risk of tokophobia in women. Studies during the pandemic indicated that maternal fear, obsession, and anxiety about COVID-19 were positively correlated to fear of childbirth. Conclusions: Childbirth fear among Asian women is greatly influenced by various psycho-social factors. More culturally driven research is needed to help develop relevant interventions that will enhance maternal psychological and spiritual well-being and reduce the fear of childbirth.

Open Access PDF

Concepts Keywords
Asians Asia
Childbirth childbirth
Pandemic fear
Psychology pregnancy
psychology
social support

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH COVID-19
disease IDO history
disease MESH psychiatric disorder
disease MESH depression
disease MESH anxiety
disease MESH partner abuse
disease MESH obsession
drug DRUGBANK Trihexyphenidyl
disease IDO process
disease MESH miscarriages
disease MESH sexual abuse
disease MESH emergency
disease MESH complications
disease MESH dystocia
disease MESH post traumatic stress disorder
disease MESH postnatal depression
disease MESH uncertainty
disease IDO quality
disease MESH phobia
disease IDO country
disease MESH Pregnancy History
disease MESH vaginismus
drug DRUGBANK Ilex paraguariensis leaf
disease MESH violence
drug DRUGBANK Famciclovir
disease MESH Anxiety Disorder
disease MESH Insomnia
drug DRUGBANK Rasagiline
disease MESH Psychological well being
disease MESH infection
disease MESH psychological distress
disease MESH domestic violence
disease IDO intervention
disease MESH High risk pregnancy
disease MESH infertility
disease MESH educational level
disease MESH unplanned pregnancy
disease MESH chronic condition
disease MESH pregnancy complications
disease MESH etiology
disease MESH Stroke
drug DRUGBANK (S)-Des-Me-Ampa
drug DRUGBANK Trestolone
drug DRUGBANK Guanosine
drug DRUGBANK Filgrastim

Original Article

(Visited 6 times, 1 visits today)