Development of Birth Perception Scale and Educational Intervention

Development of Ege Birth Perception Scale and the Effect of Planned Education on Birth Perception, Birth Fear and Birth Readiness

This study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, a psychometric instrument was developed and validated to measure women's perceptions of childbirth. The scale demonstrated strong reliability and validity indicators through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.

In the second phase, a randomized controlled trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured online education program on pregnant women's childbirth-related outcomes. A total of 80 pregnant women were recruited and randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=40), which received a 9-hour online childbirth education program, or the control group (n=40), which received routine antenatal care.

The primary outcomes were childbirth perception, fear of childbirth, and readiness for birth, assessed at baseline and post-intervention using validated instruments. The results showed that the online education program significantly improved childbirth perception and readiness for birth while reducing fear of childbirth compared to the control group.

This trial provides evidence for the effectiveness of online antenatal education in promoting a positive childbirth experience and may contribute to improving maternal health outcomes in line with international recommendations for respectful maternity care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women aged 18 years or older
• Gestational age between 20-34 weeks at the time of enrollment
• Ability to read and understand Turkish
• Access to the internet and a device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) to attend online sessions
• Willingness to participate in a 9-hour online childbirth education program
• Provided written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• High-risk pregnancy requiring specialized medical care (e.g., preeclampsia, placenta previa, multiple gestation with complications)
• Known psychiatric disorders that could interfere with participation (e.g., severe anxiety disorder, major depression, psychosis)
• Inability to attend online sessions due to technical or personal limitations
• Previous participation in a structured childbirth education program during the current pregnancy
• Refusal or withdrawal of informed consent