What type of study is this?

This is a Cross-Sectional Study study.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To identify risk factors associated with birth trauma and posttraumatic stress symptoms in women after childbirth in the UK.

May 6, 2026Open Access

Risk factors for birth trauma and postpartum posttraumatic stress in the United Kingdom : Results from the international survey of childbirth‐related trauma

Key Points

To identify risk factors associated with birth trauma and posttraumatic stress symptoms in women after childbirth in the UK.
Cross-sectional survey conducted with 339 women from hospitals in England, Wales, and Scotland.
Participants completed surveys 6-12 weeks postpartum regarding demographics, mental health, pregnancy, labor and birth, and infant details.
Outcome variables included birth trauma ratings and CB-PTSS.
Higher birth trauma ratings linked to no prior children, maternal complications, low birth satisfaction, and lack of skin-to-skin contact.
CB-PTSS correlated with younger maternal age, no prior children, mental health difficulties, prior trauma, emergency cesarean section, and lower birth satisfaction.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Recent research shows that 40.6% of women in the United Kingdom experience childbirth as at least moderately traumatic, and 5.9% develop childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD). However, risk factors for birth trauma ratings and CB-posttraumatic stress symptoms (CB-PTSS) in this sample remain unexplored. Therefore, the aim was to understand risk factors for birth trauma and CB-PTSS in a UK sample. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of traumatic birth and CB-PTSD with women (N = 339) from three hospitals in England, two in Wales, and three in Scotland. Participants completed the survey at 6-12 weeks postpartum. It included questions about (i) demographics and mental health; (ii) pregnancy; (iii) labor and birth; and (iv) the infant. Outcome variables were birth trauma rating and CB-PTSS. RESULTS: Higher birth trauma ratings were predicted by women not having other children, maternal complications during birth, lower birth satisfaction, and a mother not having skin-to-skin contact with her baby after birth. Higher CB-PTSS were predicted by younger maternal age, women not having other children, current mental health difficulties, previous trauma, giving birth in Scotland, emergency cesarean section, and lower birth satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this paper found that traumatic birth and CB-PTSS symptoms are associated with a range of demographic, mental health, birth-related, and infant-related variables. Results from this study can be used to improve maternity care.

Read Full Paperexternally

AI에게 질문

Bookmark

View Full Paper