Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41035094›Full record

ReviewMaternal health, neonatology and perinatology2025

Fear of child birth and its associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Tirusew Nigussie Kebede, Kidist Ayalew Abebe, Birhan Tsegaw Taye, Tebabere Moltot, Moges Sisay Chekole, Bezawit Melak Fente, Tamiru Minwuye Andargie, Worku Taye Getahun, Ambachew Getahun, Leweyehu Alemaw Mengstie

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Maternal health, neonatology and perinatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Tirusew Nigussie KebedeDepartment of Midwifery, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia. tirusew1221@gmail.com.
Kidist Ayalew AbebeDepartment of Midwifery, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
Birhan Tsegaw TayeDepartment of Midwifery, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
Tebabere MoltotDepartment of Midwifery, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
Moges Sisay ChekoleDepartment of Midwifery, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
Bezawit Melak FenteDepartment of General Midwifery, School of Midwifery, Collage of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Tamiru Minwuye AndargieDepartment of obstetrics and gynecology, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
Worku Taye GetahunDepartment of midwifery, Debre Markos comprehensive specialized hospital, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
Ambachew GetahunDepartment of midwifery, Debre Markos comprehensive specialized hospital, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
Leweyehu Alemaw MengstieDepartment of pediatrics and child health nursing, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFear of childbirth (FOCB) significantly contributes to labor abnormalities, needless caesarean sections, and postpartum psychotic illnesses that occur throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. This directly or indirectly increases unfavorable maternal and neonatal outcomes. However, there was a paucity of data regarding the scope and contributing factors of birthing fear in Ethiopia.

objectiveTo assess the pooled prevalence of fear of childbirth and its associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia.

methodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 checklist. A comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of science and African Journals Online databases and search engines like Google Scholar. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) quality assessment tool for cross-sectional studies. Heterogeneity among the studies was evaluated using the I² statistic, while publication bias was assessed with funnel plot, and Egger’s test. A fixed-effects model was applied to calculate the pooled prevalence and odds ratios, with results presented as 95% confidence intervals.

resultA total of six studies, involving 2,579 pregnant women, were included in this review. The pooled prevalence of FOCB was found to be 25.48% (95% CI: 23.77–27.16). In Ethiopia unplanned pregnancy (AOR: 4.45, 95% CI: 2.68–7.38), a previous history of pregnancy complications (AOR: 6.43, 95% CI: 2.43–16.98), and a previous history of labor and delivery complications (AOR: 6.05, 95% CI: 3.65–10.01) were significantly associated with FOCB.

conclusionThe prevalence of FOCB in Ethiopia is higher than in other countries. Key factors contributing to FOCB include unplanned pregnancies, a history of pregnancy complications, and past labor or delivery issues. To reduce FOCB, reducing unplanned pregnancies through various strategies and offering preconception counseling, especially for women with prior obstetric complications, is recommended. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024538215.

Indexed as

EthiopiaFear of childbirthObstetrics complicationPregnancy

Identifiers

PMID41035094
PMCPMC12490121

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.