{ "abstract": "Background: Previous studies on Fear of Childbirth (FoC) across sub-Saharan Africa have typically reported prevalence separately by parity or treated it as a covariate in multivariable analyses, with little attention given to identifying parity-specific determinants. However, first-time mothers and those with previous birth experiences may require different forms of antenatal support. To address this gap, we assessed the prevalence of FoC and identified parity-specific determinants among antenatal care attendees in Ghana to inform targeted interventions. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was carried out among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at a primary healthcare facility in Kumasi. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The primary outcome of the study, FoC, was assessed using the English version of the Wijma Delivery Expectation/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ). Additional data included sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics. Stratified multivariable linear regression models were applied to identify parity-specific determinants among the participants. Results: Of the 282 women who participated in the study, 22% had high-to-severe FoC. Nulliparous women (median: 46.0, IQR: 37.0–66.0) reported significantly higher median W-DEQ scores than parous women (median: 39.0, IQR: 32.0–58.5). In a parity-stratified analysis, among nulliparous women, factors such as a history of family abuse (adjusted Β = 16.32, 95% CI: 2.50 to 30.14) and late ANC booking (adjusted Β = 13.13, 95% CI: 1.43 to 24.84) were significantly associated with FoC. Among parous women, factors such as secondary education (adjusted Β = −7.63, 95% CI: −14.88 to −0.37), intimate partner violence (adjusted Β = 10.87, 95% CI: 0.69 to 21.04), unplanned pregnancy (adjusted Β = 8.38, 95% CI: 2.51 to 14.26), and strong family support (adjusted Β = −27.94, 95% CI: −38.77 to −17.11) were significantly associated with FoC. Conclusion: FoC is common among this cohort of pregnant women, and its determinants differed by parity and across parity-specific factors. The parity-stratified determinants underscore the need for parity-tailored psychosocial care at ANC, incorporating targeted screening and support procedures aligned with parity-associated risk pathways to enhance maternal well-being.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana", "HopeXchange Medical Centre, Kumasi, Ghana", "University Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana", "Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana", "St. Dominic Catholic Hospital, Akwatia, Ghana", "Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana" ], "article_type": "Research Article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 9, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Juliana Ofosua Addo" }, { "affs": [ 1 ], "name": "Douglas Aninng Opoku" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Julius Kwabena Karikari" }, { "affs": [ 3 ], "name": "Emmanuel Konadu" }, { "affs": [ 4 ], "name": "Mercy Addae" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Francis Kwabena Kyei" }, { "name": "Mawuse Kanfra" }, { "name": "Obed Kwabena Offe Amponsah" }, { "name": "Eric Adjei Boadu" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7hgp00j7w02w7.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0358457", "fulltext_url": null, "id": "7hgp00j7w02w7", "issns": [ "1932-6203" ], "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358457", "language": null, "licence": "CC-BY-4.0", "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0", "licence_source": "journal", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "openalex", "2729|Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Emotions/Fear" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Epidemiology/Medical risk factors" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Health care facilities" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Psychological and psychosocial issues" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Maternal health/Antenatal care" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Maternal health/Birth/Labor and delivery" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Maternal health/Pregnancy" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Obstetrics and gynecology/Birth/Labor and delivery" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Obstetrics and gynecology/Pregnancy" ], [ "plos", "/People and places/Geographical locations/Africa/Ghana" ], [ "plos", "/Social sciences/Psychology/Emotions/Fear" ] ], "openalex": "W7213916788", "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0358457&type=printable", "pmcid": null, "pmid": null, "published": "2026-09-21", "publisher": "Public Library of Science", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7hgp00j7w02w7.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z", "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0358457", "source": "plos", "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358457" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "medicine", "origin": "plos:women's health", "subfield": "reproductive-child" } ], "title": "Fear of childbirth among antenatal care attendees in a primary care setting in Kumasi, Ghana: Prevalence and parity-stratified determinants", "title_text": "Fear of childbirth among antenatal care attendees in a primary care setting in Kumasi, Ghana: Prevalence and parity-stratified determinants", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7hgp00j7w02w7", "venue": "PLOS One", "versions": [] }