Authors: Daniela Kestlerová 1; Kateřina Ratislavová 2; Vladimír Korečko 3 Authors‘ workplace: Psychiatrická klinika FN Plzeň 1; Fakulta zdravotnických studií ZČU, Katedra ošetřovatelství a porodní asistence, Plzeň 2; Gynekologicko-porodnická klinika FN Plzeň 3 Published in: Čes. a slov. Psychiat., 121, 2025, No. 5, pp. 239-240. Category: Letters to the Editor
Tokophobia, defined as a pathological fear of childbirth, represents a serious yet often overlooked mental health disorder during the perinatal period. Despite its high prevalence (affecting up to 22% of pregnant women), it frequently remains undiagnosed or is mistaken for common childbirth-related anxiety. This letter highlights the importance of early screening, healthcare staff education, and interdisciplinary collaboration in the care of women with tokophobia. We present a pilot project entitled “Tokophobia Screening,” conducted in collaboration between the University of West Bohemia and the University Hospital Pilsen, aimed at validating a tool for the early detection of primary tokophobia during pregnancy.
fear of childbirth – screening – pregnancy – tokophobia – perinatal anxiety
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2. O’Connell MA, Leahy-Warren P, Khashan AS et al. Worldwide prevalence of tocophobia in pregnant women: systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2017; 96 (8): 907–920. doi: 10.1111/aogs.13138.
3. Demšar K, Svetina M, Verdenik I et al. Tokophobia (fear of childbirth): prevalence and risk factors. J Perinat Med 2018; 46 (2): 151–154. doi: 10.1515/jpm-2016-0282.
4. Dencker A, Nilsson C, Begley C et al. Causes and outcomes in studies of fear of childbirth: a systematic review. Women Birth 2019; 32 (2): 99–111. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.07.004.
5. Konieczna E, Hofmann M, Domaszewska K. Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques in the treatment of tokophobia – a literature review. Fam Med Prim Care Rev 2024; 26 (2): 261–266. doi: 10.5114/fmpcr.2024.139039.
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