Hybrid concept analysis of fear of childbirth based on pregnant women’s experiences: a qualitative protocol study

BACKGROUND: Clarifying the concept of fear of childbirth in pregnant women is crucial, especially for medical professionals like midwives and nurses. This research aims to analyze the concept of fear of childbirth based on the experiences and perspectives of Iranian pregnant women, as no previous study has focused on clarifying this phenomenon. METHOD: In this study, the hybrid concept analysis model will be used to analyze the concept of fear of childbirth in pregnant women. This model consists of three theoretical stages: literature review, field work, and final analysis. A literature review will be conducted to retrieve any definition and measurement, behaviors, antecedents, and consequences about concept of fear of childbirth in pregnant women. In the second phase the qualitative study will be conducted for extracting experiences and perspectives of pregnant women of fear of childbirth, using semi-structural interviews. In the third phase will involve a comprehensive analysis that combines the results from the previous two phases. We will compare the concept of fear of childbirth in the articles with the findings from the fieldwork phase, highlighting any differences between the data obtained from the fieldwork and the theoretical phase. We will then extract and report these differences. DISCUSSION: The present study aims to provide an overview of the concept of fear of childbirth by reviewing texts, articles, tools, and the perceptions of pregnant women based on their lived experiences. The concept of "fear of childbirth" encompasses various types of anxiety and fear that women experience in relation to pregnancy and childbirth. Understanding the characteristics of this concept can help develop it in health systems and improve care before and during pregnancy.