The Effect of Antenatal Class Plus Coping Skill Training on the Level of Stress and Childbirth Self-Efficacy

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy puts mothers in vulnerable conditions that lead to stress. Consequently, a negative impact over the stress influences mother’s and baby’s health. Antenatal class (AC) was aimed to increase knowledge and prepare for childbirth. However, AC focuses on delivering knowledge, whereas the content is lack of psychological preparation such as developing self-efficacy and coping skill in facing childbirth. This study aimed to find the effect of antenatal class plus coping skills training towards a level of stress, and a childbirth self-efficacy. Method: This study was a randomized pre-test post-test control group design over primigravida women in their 24–34 weeks of Deliveredpregnancy. DatabyIngentacollectionto:wasDianconductedSawitriin 4 weeks. Data were analyzed using paired T-test and independentIP:36.80.134T-test,.221andOn:alsoTue,repeated08 AugANOVA2017with16:17:43Benferroni post hoc test. Results: The mean age of participantsCopyright:was24yearsAmerican.TheinterventionScientificof antenatalPublishersclass plus coping skills training had significant influence to decrease the stress level (p = 0 014) between groups. In one hand, it was also enhancing the childbirth self-efficacy but in the other hand it was statistically insignificant with the mean and standard deviation of 2.484 and 12.727 respectively, with a p value of 0.579 between the groups. Conclusion: It is essential for pregnant women to have antenatal classes plus coping skills training. It is also important to screen the pregnant women for stress and the screen protocol could be included in the maternal handbook. Keywords: Coping Skill Training, Childbirth Self-Efficacy, Antenatal Class, Stress Levels.