Content area
Full Text
PURPOSE: Determine the effectiveness of childbirth classes for increasing self-efficacy on expectant women and support persons.
MATERIALS & METHODS: This quasi-experimental study used an 18-question self-efficacy instrument to survey 115 expectant women and 103 support persons prior to and immediately following childbirth classes.
RESULTS: Childbirth classes significantly increased self-efficacy scores of both the women (t[82] = -11.059, p < 0.000) and the support person (t[77] = 11.673, p < 0.000). Support persons had significantly higher self-efficacy scores after the childbirth class than the women (t[175] = -2.55, p = 0.012). Type of class attended did not significantly affect self-efficacy. Dealing with labor without pain medication continued to be an area of low self-efficacy for women following childbirth classes. Evaluation of childbirth classes will help educators refine content and methods for delivery of childbirth education. Ultimately, improved patient education will result in greater patient satisfaction and optimal birth outcomes.
KEYWORDS: childbirth preparation; prenatal care; parenting preparation; birth preparation
INTRODUCTION
Childbirth is a life-changing event for both the woman and her support person with many changes and challenges to overcome. Childbirth classes are one source that women and their support persons use during pregnancy to prepare them for the accompanying physiological and psychological effects of labor, delivery, and early parenthood. Women may choose to attend childbirth classes for various reasons, but the main goal of the classes is to increase the participant's knowledge and confidence. Childbirth educators are faced with the challenge of providing knowledge and skills to both the pregnant woman and her support persons as they prepare for the challenges of childbirth and parenting. This article describes research conducted to determine if childbirth education classes impact the childbirth selfefficacy of expectant women and support persons.
Because every labor, delivery, and parenting experience is different, childbirth classes may never be able to fully prepare women and their support persons in every aspect for childbirth and parenthood, but childbirth classes provide many tools that assist the parents to deal with their particular experience (Bainbridge, 2009). Although content and teaching methods can vary widely, childbirth classes, as they are generally referred to in the United States, appear to have similar objectives to the antenatal classes taught in other parts of the world. The goals of both childbirth...