Trial reportBMC pregnancy and childbirth2025
Digital intervention for tokophobia: a randomized controlled trial of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy on fear of childbirth and self-efficacy among Egyptian pregnant women.
Trial report in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 7 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Efficacy of Internet- Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Among Women With Fear of Childbirth: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The Effect of a Health Belief Model-Based Solution-Focused Childbirth Preparation Program on Fear of Childbirth, Belief in Normal Birth, Pregnancy Stress, and Mode of Delivery in Primigravid Women
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Body image and social media as predictors of pregnancy health behaviors.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Article
- Perceived usefulness and satisfaction of pregnant women with a WhatsApp-based education intervention aiming to improve access to pregnancy care: a mixed-methods evaluation.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- The impact of Swanson's theory of caring on self-efficacy and pregnancy outcomes of primiparous women.Pakistan journal of medical sciences · 2025Article
- Article
- Article
- Effectiveness of WhatsApp-based education on improving access to maternal health: A systematic review.Digital healthReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundTokophobia affects up to 14% of pregnant women globally and is linked to high cesarean rates, particularly in Egypt. This study evaluated the efficacy of a culturally adapted Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program on fear of childbirth and maternal self-efficacy among Egyptian pregnant women.
methodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted in Damanhur City, Egypt, involving 96 pregnant women with moderate to severe tokophobia. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 48) receiving a six-week program via WhatsApp or a control group (n = 48) receiving routine antenatal care. The intervention included cognitive restructuring, exposure therapy, relaxation techniques, and psychoeducation grounded in Bandura's Self-Efficacy Theory. Outcomes were assessed using the Childbirth Attitude Questionnaire and Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory at baseline and post-intervention.
resultsPost-intervention, the intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in fear of childbirth scores (mean decrease: 14.32 ± 5.55; p < 0.001) and an increase in maternal self-efficacy (mean increase: 38.3 ± 35.7; p < 0.001). Large effect sizes were observed for both fear reduction (η²=0.876) and self-efficacy enhancement (η²=0.600). The control group showed no significant changes.
conclusionThe culturally adapted Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program significantly reduced tokophobia and enhanced maternal self-efficacy, supporting its integration into perinatal care. These findings align with Bandura's Self-Efficacy Theory and suggest the potential of digital interventions in improving psychological outcomes, especially in resource-limited settings. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Integrating the program into routine antenatal care could provide accessible, cost-effective support for women experiencing tokophobia, potentially reducing unnecessary cesarean sections and informing health policy regarding the effectiveness of the ICBT program. Future research should assess long-term outcomes and generalizability in diverse populations.
trial registrationThe study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier (NCT06640608) on October 15, 2024.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.