Evaluation of the relationship between birth beliefs and readiness for childbirth in pregnant women: a cross-sectional study

Background Pregnancy and childbirth is a multifaceted experience for women that has physical, emotional and cultural dimensions as well as biological ones. Women may sometimes perceive birth as a meaningful and transformative process and sometimes as a medical necessity to be completed. Therefore, understanding beliefs about birth and readiness levels during pregnancy is important for individualizing midwifery care and planning appropriate counseling. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between birth beliefs and birth readiness levels of pregnant women. Methods This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2022 in a public maternity hospital in the capital of Turkey. The sample size was calculated with a 95% confidence level and a 3% margin of error, and 1000 pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria and voluntarily participated in the study were included in the study. Data were collected using a sociodemographic and obstetric information form, Beliefs of Childbirth Scale and Birth Readiness Scale administered by face-to-face interview method. Descriptive statistics (percentage, mean, SD) and inferential tests (independent t-test, ANOVA, and Kruskal–Wallis) were used. Results The mean age of the participants was 28.0 ± 5.0 years, most of them were not working and half of them were primipara. Of the pregnant women, 67.6% preferred vaginal delivery and 32.4% preferred cesarean section. The belief in natural process was higher in those who preferred vaginal delivery and the belief in medical process was higher in those who preferred cesarean section. Birth readiness levels of pregnant women who preferred cesarean section were significantly higher. In addition, a positive correlation was found between natural process belief and readiness (r = 0.312, p < 0.001). Conclusions As a result of this study, a positive and weak relationship was found between ‘Natural Process’ belief and birth readiness. In addition, pregnant women who preferred cesarean section had a higher level of readiness, suggesting the effect of the preference for planability and controlled process. The findings suggest that it may be useful to evaluate women's beliefs about birth in pregnancy care and to structure counseling by considering these individual differences.