Does antenatal education reduce fear of childbirth? Ö. Karabulut 1 RM, D. Cos ¸kuner Potur 2 RN, PhD, Y. Dog ˘an Merih 3 RN, PhD, S. Cebeci Mutlu 4 RN & N. Demirci 5 RN, PhD 1 Clinical Midwife Antenatal Educator, 3 Health Care Manager, 4 Policlinic Nurse, Zeynep Kamil Women and Child Disease Training and Research Hospital, I ˙ stanbul, Turkey, 2 Assistant Professor, 5 Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Division of Nursing, Marmara University, I ˙ stanbul, Turkey KARABULUT Ö., COS ¸KUNER POTUR D. , DOG ˘ AN MERIH Y., CEBECI MUTLU S. & DEMIRCI N. (2016) Does antenatal education reduce fear of childbirth? International Nursing Review Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of antenatal education on fear of childbirth, acceptance of pregnancy and identification with motherhood role. Background: There is insufficient evidence pertaining to the effect of antenatal education on fear of childbirth, acceptance of pregnancy and identification with motherhood role. Introduction: The purpose of antenatal education is to help couples make the right decisions during delivery. Through antenatal education, couples prepare themselves for delivery. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental and prospective study that employs a pre- and post-education model. In total, 192 pregnant women (education group, n = 69 and control group, n = 123) participated in the study. Data were collected using the pregnancy identification form: the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire and a version of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire. Results: Prior to participating in the study, the education group and control group had similar levels of acceptance of pregnancy and identification with motherhood role, whereas a significant difference was found in their fear of childbirth levels. When surveyed again after receiving education, the two groups’ levels of acceptance of pregnancy and fear of childbirth were found to be significantly different. However, they had similar levels of identification with the motherhood role. Conclusion: Antenatal education appears to increase the acceptance of pregnancy, does not affect the identification with motherhood role and reduces the fear of childbirth. Implications for nursing and health policy: A systematic antenatal education programme, as part of routine antenatal care services, would help reduce the rate of interventional labour and facilitate pregnant women’s conscious participation in the act of labour by reducing their fear of childbirth. Keywords: Antenatal Education, Fear of Childbirth, Midwife, Nurse, Pregnancy, Prenatal, Type of Birth Introduction Antenatal education is a service requested by the majority of pregnant women throughout the world; it appears under various names such as ‘childbirth education programmes’, ‘pre- natal classes’ and ‘childbirth preparation classes’. In some parts of the world, even today, this education is provided by the Correspondence address: Dilek Cos ¸kuner Potur, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Division of Nursing, Marmara University, Tıbbiye Cad No. 40 Haydarpas ¸a, I ˙ stanbul, 34668, Turkey; Tel: +90-216-330-20-70-1141; Fax: +90-216-418-37-73; E-mail: dilekcp@yahoo.com Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest. Original Article 60 © 2015 International Council of Nurses 63, 60–67