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February 12, 2026Archives of Women s Mental HealthOpen Access

The effect of prenatal education on the fear of childbirth: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Authors

ZKZekiye KaraçamPOPriscilla Ampofoa OfeiGUGülçin Uzunoğlu

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Overview

Systematic review demonstrates that prenatal education reduces fear of childbirth and increases vaginal births among pregnant women, suggesting its importance in maternity care.

Key Points

  • To evaluate the impact of prenatal education on the fear of childbirth in pregnant women.
  • Conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies.
  • Data pooled through meta-analysis following the PRISMA guidelines.
  • Quality of studies assessed using ROBINS-I and RoB2; evidence certainty evaluated with GRADE method.
  • Included 28 studies with a total sample size of 3073 participants.
  • Prenatal education significantly reduced fear of childbirth during antepartum (SMD: -1.12) and postpartum (MD: -24.35) periods.
  • Increased likelihood of vaginal birth by approximately two times and preference for vaginal birth by three times.

Cite This Study

Karaçam et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/698d6ebb5be6419ac0d54712https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-025-01635-5
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Effect of antenatal education on fear of childbirth, mental health, and perceived stress in primigravid pregnant women: a prospective randomized controlled trial2025 · 4 citations
  2. 2The effect of interventions in vaginal birth on fear of childbirth: A multicentre study2024 · 1 citations
  3. 3The Association of Prenatal Education Classes on Fear of Childbirth and Pregnancy-Related Anxiety: A Prospective Comparative Study2026
  4. 4Effect of Interventions to Reduce Fear of Childbirth in Pregnancy: Meta-Analysis2024
  5. 5Effect of Antenatal Education on Fear of Childbirth, Mental Health, and Perceived Stress in Primiparous Pregnant Women: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial2025