The Relationship Between Perceived Privacy and Fear of Childbirth During Labor: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Childbirth is a critical period in which women′s sense of privacy may be compromised due to physical exposure and environmental conditions. The perception of privacy during labor is considered an important factor influencing women′s psychological well-being and may play a significant role in shaping their fear of childbirth. Aim: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the level of privacy perception and fear of childbirth in pregnant women in labor. Methods: The research was conducted on 356 pregnant women in Bitlis State Hospital between April 2024 and September 2024. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, and Childbirth Privacy and Confidentiality Scale; analyses were performed using the SPSS-24 program. Results: It was determined that 49.4% of the participants were primary school graduates, 87.1% were unemployed, and 96.1% lived in a nuclear family. The mean age was 29.09 ± 6.37, the mean number of pregnancies was 2.57 ± 1.88, and the mean number of living children was 1.28 ± 1.57. The mean fear of childbirth score was 25.45 ± 6.90, whereas the total privacy score was 66.95 ± 21.59. The mean VAS score was measured as 4.34 ± 1.31 in the latent phase and 8.11 ± 1.03 in the active phase. A statistically significant relationship was found between the perception of privacy and fear of childbirth. Conclusion: Privacy during childbirth is a fundamental factor that significantly affects the fear levels of pregnant women. Protecting privacy can improve women′s experiences of fear of childbirth by increasing their emotional comfort.