The effect of attending childbirth education class on the status of meeting the health needs of pregnant women and their quality of life

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the health needs and quality of life of pregnant women who attend and do not attend antenatal classes, and to examine the effect of attending antenatal classes on health needs and quality of life during pregnancy. Material and Methods: The study is analytical-cross-sectional in nature and was conducted between July 1, 2024, and August 6, 2025, at Aydın Women's and Children's Hospital and Söke Fehime Faik Kocagöz Hospital. The study population consisted of pregnant women in their third trimester who were attending prenatal education classes at these hospitals and who, for any reason, had applied to these hospitals for services without attending prenatal education classes. The sample consisted of 176 pregnant women selected at convenience sampling the population, including 88 who were attending prenatal education classes and 88 who were not. Data were collected using a "Personal Information Form," the "Maternal Health Needs Scale," and the "Quality of Life Scale in Pregnancy." The obtained data were expressed using descriptive statistics (number, percentage, mean, and standard deviation), and the significance test for the difference between two means, Mann Whitney U, chi-square, correlation, and regression analyses were performed. Results: In the study, the total mean score on the Maternal Health Needs Scale for women attending antenatal classes was 101.71±9.48, while for those not attending it was 95.42±17.64. The maternal health needs scores of pregnant women attending antenatal classes were higher and statistically different from those not attending. It was determined that 59.1% of women attending antenatal classes had a very good quality of life during pregnancy and 36.4% had an excellent quality of life, while 69.3% of those not attending had a very good quality of life and 19.3% had an excellent quality of life. It was calculated that the percentage of women attending antenatal classes who had an excellent quality of life was higher and statistically different from those not attending. It was found that attending prenatal classes predicted the total score on the Maternal Health Needs Scale by approximately 5% and the likelihood of having an excellent quality of life during pregnancy according to the Quality of Life During Pregnancy Scale by 42%. Conclusion: It has been determined that there is a difference between the maternal health needs and quality of life levels of women who attend and do not attend antenatal classes. It has been found that women who attend antenatal classes have a higher rate of excellent maternal health needs and quality of life than those who do not attend. It has been found that attending antenatal classes predicts maternal health needs and quality of life during pregnancy. Keywords: Childbirth Classes, Midwifery, Pregnancy, Health Services Needs and Demand, Quality Of Life