Measuring Fear of Childbirth Among a Diverse Population in the United States: A Revised Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Scale (WDEQ-10) |
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Authors: | Lee Roosevelt CNM PhD MPH Ruth Zielinski CNM PhD Julia Seng CNM PhD Lisa Kane Low CNM PhD |
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Affiliation: | School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan |
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Abstract: | Introduction The current gold standard instrument used to measure fear of childbirth is the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (WDEQ). However, the existing scale is long, has translational challenges, and lacks data specific to experiences of a diverse population in the United States, making it challenging to assess how fear of childbirth impacts perinatal health care disparities. The objective of this study was to revise the WDEQ and analyze its reliability and validity for use in the United States. Methods The questionnaire was revised using qualitative data from a previously published study of fear of childbirth within a racially, ethnically, and economically diverse group of pregnant or postpartum people in the United States. Psychometric properties were analyzed in terms of construct validity, reliability, and factor analysis from a group of 329 participants. Results The revised and shortened 10 item WDEQ-10 comprises 3 subscales: fear of environmental factors, fear of death or injury, and fear of how they feel. The results indicate that the WDEQ-10 demonstrates good reliability and validity and confirmed the multidimensionality of fear of childbirth through a 3-factor solution. Discussion The WDEQ-10 is a readable and accessible instrument that will allow health care providers and researchers to accurately measure complex components of how pregnant people experience fear of childbirth. |
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Keywords: | health equity perinatal mental health survey research |
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