Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
Purpose The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of surgical fear levels on perceived postpartum pain and breastfeeding success in women undergoing an elective cesarean section. Design The study used a descriptive and cross–sectional research design. Methods The study included 350 pregnant women who underwent elective cesarean section at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of Ankara Etlik City Hospital between January 15, 2024 and September 15, 2024. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the personal information form, the Surgical Fear Questionnaire, the Visual Analog Scale, and the LATCH Breastfeeding and Diagnostic Tool. The data were analyzed using numbers, percentages, mean, standard deviation, Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation, and single regression analysis. Findings The participants’ mean age was 27.89 ± 4.27 years, and the mean duration of marriage was 5.94 ± 4.22 years. Of the participants, 66.9% had a medium income level, and 91.7% lived in a nuclear family. The participants scored an average of 36.47 ± 15.80 points on the Surgical Fear Questionnaire, 9.46 ± 0.84 points on the Visual Analog Scale at the second hour postpartum, and 6.69 ± 1.52 points on the LATCH Breastfeeding and Diagnostic Tool. While there was a low–level positive correlation between surgical fear and postpartum pain, there was a low–level negative correlation between surgical fear and breastfeeding (P ' .001). Conclusions The fear that pregnant women experienced before elective cesarean section increased postpartum pain while reducing breastfeeding success.