Effect of Haptonomy on Prenatal Attachment and Fear of Childbirth in Primiparous Couples

The Effect of Haptonomy Application for Primiparous Pregnant Women and Their Partners on Prenatal Attachment and Fear of Childbirth: A Randomized Controlled Study

This study was planned to evaluate the effect of haptonomy practice for primiparous pregnant women and their partners on prenatal attachment and fear of childbirth.

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of haptonomy practice for primiparous pregnant women and their partners on prenatal attachment and fear of childbirth.

Methods: This randomized controlled experimental study will include primiparous pregnant women and their partners (36 couples in the experimental group and 36 couples in the control group) who apply to the childbirth education class of a public hospital in Turkey and are between 24-26 weeks of gestation.

The experimental group will receive haptonomy education in the childbirth class. Afterwards, a video-based haptonomy program will be delivered via e-mail or WhatsApp. Couples will be asked to perform haptonomy exercises once a week for 40 minutes over five weeks. No intervention will be applied to the control group.

Data will be collected before the intervention and at the end of the fifth week using the Personal Information Form, Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI), Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version A (W-DEQ A), Paternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (PFAS), and Fathers' Fear of Childbirth Scale (FFOC).

Data analysis will include frequency and percentage distributions, chi-square test, t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, repeated measures analysis, two-way ANOVA, Friedman test, and Cohen's d test.

Inclusion Criteria:

• • At least a primary school graduate

  • Between the 24th and 26th weeks of pregnancy
  • According to calculations made by ultrasound based on the last menstrual period or, for pregnant women who do not know their last menstrual period, between the 24th and 26th weeks of pregnancy
  • Primiparous
  • No history of abortion/curettage
  • Planned/desired pregnancy
  • Desired baby gender
  • Living with spouse
  • Attended pregnancy classes
  • Able to use technology such as computers and mobile phones to watch videos
  • No barriers to understanding questions and responding
  • No previous training on fear of childbirth or prenatal bonding
  • Not having previously received education on haptonomy or practised haptonomy
  • Not undergoing infertility treatment
  • Being between the ages of 19 and 35

Exclusion Criteria:

• • Be at least 26 weeks pregnant

  • Live separately from spouse
  • Have an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy
  • Not want the baby to be of a specific gender
  • Not use technology
  • Be a high-risk pregnancy
  • Have previously received training on fear of childbirth and prenatal bonding
  • Having previously received training in haptonomy and practised haptonomy
  • Deciding to discontinue haptonomy practice after the study began and/or giving birth prematurely before completing the practice sessions