Effectiveness of emotional freedom technique on fear of childbirth among primiparous women at selected hospitals, Erode

This quasi-experimental study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) in reducing fear of childbirth among primiparous women. The study included 30 primiparous women, divided into experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. Key Findings of the study were in demographic characteristics, majority of mothers were aged 24-29 years, living in nuclear families, and had arranged marriages. The fear of childbirth was significantly reduced in the experimental group, with 93% of mothers having mild fear after EFT. The results showed that EFT was highly effective in reducing fear of childbirth in the experimental group, with a mean difference of 52% between pretest and post-test scores. The paired 't' test value of 20.6 (P < 0.05) and unpaired 't' test value of 5.59 (P < 0.05) indicated significant differences in fear reduction between pretest and post-test scores and between control and experimental groups, respectively. The study also found a significant association between fear reduction and demographic variables such as monthly income and support of family members. The findings suggest that EFT can be a useful technique in reducing fear of childbirth among primiparous women. The study suggests that EFT can be a useful technique in reducing fear of childbirth among primiparous women, and healthcare providers can consider incorporating EFT into antenatal care programs.