The effect of prenatal education in two ways, face-to-face and virtual, on the fear of natural childbirth in pregnant women

AIMS: This study was designed and implemented to compare the effect of prenatal education on the fear of natural birth in pregnant women. SUBJECT AND METHOD: This research was a semi-experimental study with a control group conducted on 96 pregnant women in Mashhad. People were randomly allocated to face-to-face and virtual groups. The Wijma childbirth experience/expectation questionnaire version A and the midwifery personal information form were used as pre-test and post-test tools. RESULTS: In the face-to-face and virtual groups, the average scores before and after the intervention were different, which indicated a decrease in fear of Natural childbirth in pregnant women, which was statistically significant. The changes in fear of natural childbirth score were significantly different between the three groups, and these changes were higher in the face-to-face group than in the other two groups. CONCLUSION: Attendance in natural childbirth preparation classes in face-to-face and virtual training methods positively affects the fear of natural childbirth. Therefore, encouraging and supporting women to participate in training courses increase the women’s desire for natural childbirth.