PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF CHILDBIRTH INDUCED POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Author Name: 1 Mrs Manju Chawla, 2 Dr Rajwant Kaur Randhawa

Volume/Issue: 01/12

Country: India

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: http://www.doi-ds.org/doilink/06.2021-42343377/UIJIR

Affiliation:

1. PhD Scholar Desh Bhagat University Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab
2. PhD Guide Desh Bhagat University Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab

ABSTRACT

Posttraumatic stress related with the childbirth experience of full-term delivery with health outcomes has been recently documented in a growing body of studies. The magnitude of this condition and the factors that might put a woman at risk for developing childbirth-related postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD) symptoms are not fully understood. In this systematic review of 36 articles representing quantitative studies of primarily community samples, we set to examine PP-PTSD prevalence rates and associated predictors with a focus on the role of prior PTSD and time since childbirth. A significant minority of women endorsed PP-PTSD following successful birth. Acute PP-PTSD rates were between 4.6 and 6.3%, and endorsement of clinically significant PP- PTSD symptoms was identified in up to 16.8% of women in community samples of high quality studies. Negative subjective experience of childbirth emerged as the most important predictor. Endorsement of PTSD before childbirth contributed to PP-PTSD; nevertheless, women without PTSD also exhibited PP-PTSD, with acute rates at 4.6%, signifying a new PTSD onset in the postpartum period. Although the majority of women cope well, childbirth for some can be perceived as a highly stressful experience and even result in the development of PP- PTSD symptoms. More research is needed to understand postpartum adaption and childbirth-related posttraumatic stress outcomes.

Key words: postpartum PTSD, childbirth, systematic review, posttraumatic stress, delivery, obstetrics, psychopathology, resilience