Investigation of pre-pregnancy fear of childbirth and it's affecting risk factors in youth

The research was conducted in a protective type to examine prenatal birth fear and risk factors in young people. The population of the research consisted of a total of 1721 people, 1368 young women, and 353 young men, studying at the Faculty of Health Sciences of Çankırı Karatekin University. The sample of the study consisted of 326 people who met the inclusion criteria. The research was carried out between April 2022 and June 2022. Data Collection Forms including introductory information, the Female Pregnancy Fear of Birth Scale (KGÖ-DKÖ) and Male Pre-pregnancy Fear of Birth Scale (EGÖ-DKÖ) were used to collect data. In the analysis of the data collected within the scope of the research, frequency analysis (number, percentage, mean) was used for categorical variables, and descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) analyses were used for numerical variables. The mean score of the young women participating in the study from the Fear of Pregnancy Pregnancy Scale was 37.86±11.03. The total mean score of the young men participating in the study from the Male Pre-Pregnancy Fear of Birth Scale was 35.54±10.03. In the study, it was determined that there was a statistically significant relationship between fear of childbirth before pregnancy according to the variables of family income status and the desire to receive prenatal education with their spouse in the future (p<0.05). In young men, it was determined that pre-pregnancy birth fears were lower in those who study in the nursing department and want to have children in the future (p<0.05). As a result of the research, it was determined that the fear of childbirth before pregnancy is a similar and moderate level of fear in young people (men and women). Therefore, it is recommended to identify the factors affecting the birth fear of young people, to reduce the birth fears that may arise by taking the necessary precautions, to explain the importance of spousal support to the youth in reducing the fear of birth during pregnancy and to carry out the necessary training/consulting activities in this direction.