This study was done to compare prenatal education programs for anxiety and labor efficacy in third trimester women.

The subjects were 95 primigravida who attended a prenatal education program at H and B hospital in Kyounggi province and a health center in Chungbuk province and in the Incheon metropolitan area. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, and trait and state anxiety, and labor efficacy were measured. The data was analyzed by frequency, mean, and paired t-test.

In this study, there was a high level of anxiety in the primigravida. After the program, only state anxiety was decreased significantly at the attendants of the health center. Labor efficacy was a little increased, but this was not significant. Anxiety was increased and labor efficacy was decreased in the attendant of a private hospital.

These education programs were not so effective to decrease anxiety and to increase labor efficacy. For on effective program to increase labor efficacy, it is necessary to standardize prenatal education program content and to revise it to decrease state anxiety closer to delivery. It is necessary to discover why these programs were not effective.