Antenatal anxiety, fear of birth and spirituality in pregnancy: a correlational study in Jordan

Background/Aims Spirituality may influence how women cope with antenatal anxiety and fear of birth. This study aimed to examine associations between antenatal anxiety, fear of birth and spirituality among pregnant women in Jordan. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 150 pregnant women recruited from maternity care settings. Participants' responses to questionnaires containing the Prenatal Anxiety Screening Scale, the Fear of Birth Scale and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale were analysed using descriptive statistics and correlation analyses. Results High risk of antenatal anxiety was identified in 67.3% of participants and 50.7% reported clinically significant fear of childbirth. Spirituality was negatively correlated with antenatal anxiety, but there was no significant association between spirituality and fear of birth. Conclusions Spiritual wellbeing may serve as a protective factor against antenatal anxiety, highlighting the value of holistic approaches in antenatal care. Implications for practice Routine antenatal care should include validated screening for antenatal anxiety and fear of childbirth, with clear referral pathways. Midwives should assess women's spiritual needs and incorporate culturally appropriate spiritual support when appropriate.