The medating role of individual values in the relationship between fear of childbirth and prenatal breastfeeding self efficacy in planned and unplanned pregnancies

Objective; This cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the mediating role of individual values in the relationship between fear of childbirth and prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy among women with planned and unplanned pregnancies. Methods; This study sample consisted of 302 primiparous pregnant women in their third trimester who applied to the Obstetrics Outpatient Clinic of Istanbul Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital. The data were collected using the 'Women's Information Form', the 'Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ)', the 'Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (PBSES)', and the 'Value Preferences Scale (VPS)'. Results; The mean W-DEQ score of women with planned pregnancy was 48.48 (SD=23.89) and 73.4% of them had a low level of fear of childbirth; the mean PBSES score was 81.68 (SD=13.23). The highest individual value scores were 'Moral Value' 5,56 (SD=3,47) and 'Religious Value' 5,37 (SD=4,72). The mean W-DEQ score of women who had unplanned pregnancy was 56.64 (SD=25.59) and 58% of them had low level of fear of childbirth; the mean PBSES score was 79.90 (SD=14.20). In this group, the highest value scores were observed for 'Religious Value' (5.93, SD = 3.39) and 'Moral Value' (5.71, SD = 3.09). It was found that the level of childbirth fear in women with unplanned pregnancies was significantly higher than in those with planned pregnancies (p < 0.05). A significant negative relationship was found between childbirth fear and prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy in both planned and unplanned pregnancies (p < 0.05). No mediating role of individual values was identified in the relationship between childbirth fear and prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy in either group. Conclusion; Pregnancy planning is a significant factor in reducing childbirth fear. A significant relationship exists between childbirth fear and prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy; therefore, it is recommended to assess both variables together. However, it was concluded that individual values do not mediate this relationship. Pregnancy planning plays a critical role in reducing fear of childbirth. The significant negative association identified between childbirth fear and prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy underscores the necessity of evaluating these variables in conjunction within clinical practice. Nevertheless, no empirical support was found for the mediating role of individual values in this relationship.