"Educational Intervention for Tokophobia in Pregnant Women"

Overview

This quasi-experimental study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of structured educational sessions on tokophobia among pregnant women. Tokophobia, defined as an intense fear of pregnancy and childbirth, can negatively affect maternal psychological well-being, coping abilities, and overall quality of life. A purposive sample of 50 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Soad Kafafi Hospital, October City, Egypt, participated in the study. Participants received a structured educational intervention consisting of five sessions addressing knowledge about tokophobia, psychological coping strategies, and lifestyle modifications to enhance well-being during pregnancy. Data were collected before and after the intervention using validated tools, including the Tokophobia Awareness Questionnaire, Tokophobia Assessment Scale, Jalowiec Coping Scale, and WHOQOL-BREF. The study evaluates changes in awareness levels, severity of tokophobia, coping strategies, and quality of life following the intervention. The findings are expected to provide evidence on the role of educational interventions in reducing fear of childbirth and improving maternal psychological outcomes.

Tokophobia is a severe and persistent fear of pregnancy and childbirth that can negatively affect maternal mental health, coping abilities, and overall quality of life. It is associated with increased anxiety, avoidance behaviors, and preference for unnecessary medical interventions such as cesarean delivery. Lack of knowledge and inadequate psychological support during pregnancy may exacerbate this condition. Educational interventions have been identified as effective strategies to enhance awareness, reduce fear, and improve psychological outcomes among pregnant women. Providing structured information and coping strategies may empower women, increase their sense of control, and promote positive pregnancy experiences. This study adopts a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design to evaluate the effectiveness of structured educational sessions on tokophobia among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Soad Kafafi Hospital, October City, Egypt. A purposive sample of 50 pregnant women aged 18 years and above is included in the study. The intervention consists of five structured educational sessions, including three theoretical sessions and two practical sessions. The sessions focus on increasing awareness about tokophobia, identifying its causes and symptoms, and introducing psychological coping strategies such as relaxation techniques and stress management. Additionally, lifestyle modifications and supportive practices to enhance maternal well-being are addressed. Data are collected before and after the intervention using validated tools, including the Tokophobia Awareness Questionnaire, Tokophobia Assessment Scale (TAS), Jalowiec Coping Scale (JCS), and WHOQOL-BREF. The primary objective is to assess the effectiveness of the educational intervention in improving awareness and reducing tokophobia severity. Secondary outcomes include improvement in coping strategies and enhancement of quality of life. The findings of this study may contribute to improving antenatal care practices by integrating structured educational programs targeting tokophobia, thereby supporting maternal psychological well-being and promoting positive pregnancy outcomes.