Fear of Childbirth: A Bibliometric Analysis

Siti Nurhidayati (Midwife Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia)
Revi Gama Hatta Novika (Midwife Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia)
Nurul Jannatul Wahidah (Midwife Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia)
Rufidah Maulina (Midwife Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia)
Luluk Fajria Maulida (Midwife Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia)
Atriany Nilam Sari (Midwife Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia)
Fadhila Tsania Richa (Mamina Mother and Child Clinics, Malang, East Java, Indonesia)

Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health
Vol. 11 No. 3 (2026)

Background: Fear of childbirth (FOC) is an increasingly recognized maternal health issue that affects women's physical, psychological, and overall well-being and is associated with adverse outcomes, including increased obstetric interventions and perinatal mental health problems. This study aimed to analyze global research trends, collaboration patterns, and thematic developments in FOC research over the past decade using a bibliometric approach. Subjects and Method: This was a bibliometric study using the Scopus database. A literature search was performed from database inception January 27, 2026 using the search query: TITLE-ABS-KEY (“fear of childbirth” OR “tokophobia” OR “anxiety childbirth”). The search was english-language, open-access, and final published articles were included. A total of 1,022 publications met the eligibility criteria. Annual scientific production, institutional productivity, author productivity, and publication trends by source and country were descriptively analyzed, while thematic analysis was conducted using VOSviewer. Results: A total of 1.022 publications, demonstrating a consistent increase in scientific product­ion, with the highest output recorded in 2025 (n=184). Iran contributed the largest number of publications (n=137), while the United Kingdom showed the strongest international collaboration network with the highest total link strength (TLS=135), followed by the United States (TLS=112). Citation analysis revealed that the most cited article received 472 citations. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified four major research themes: social and healthcare system factors, clinical and physiological aspects of childbirth, perinatal mental health, and methodological and psychological measurement approaches. Conclusion: Research on fear of childbirth has expanded substantially, reflecting a multi­dimensional field encompassing psychological, clinical, social, and healthcare perspectives. Key research gaps, particularly regarding family involvement and healthcare system factors, highlight priorities for future research and the development of comprehensive, woman centered maternal healthcare strategies.