Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a childbirth education program on self-efficacy and state anxiety among first-time Jordanian mothers.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted using pretest/posttest design with 128 low-risk, first-time Jordanian mothers. The experimental group (N = 64) received a childbirth education program, while those in the control group (N = 64) received standard care in antenatal clinics. Data were collected at two different time points: at recruitment and 3 weeks after attending the program.
Results: The mean score of the experimental group on outcome expectancy (posttest) (139.91, SD = 15.586) was significantly higher than that of the control group (110.16, SD = 28.33) (F = 72.356, P = .003, partial Eta squared = .37). On the efficacy expectancy, the mean score of the experimental group (133.33, SD = 16.246) was also higher than that of the control group (92.06, SD = 27.07) (F = 144.282, P = .000, partial eta squared = .54). On the state anxiety scale, the mean score of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the experimental group (F = 89.715, P = .002, partial eta squared = .42).
Conclusion: The childbirth education program improved the coping ability of mothers during childbirth and decreased their state of anxiety.