Traumatic Childbirth and Birth-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Cohort Study

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 19; no. 21; p. 14246
• Main Authors: Benzakour, Lamyae, Gayet-Ageron, Angèle, Jubin, Maria, Suardi, Francesca, Pallud, Chloé, Lombard, Fanny-Blanche, Quagliarini, Beatrice, Epiney, Manuella
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 31.10.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Birth; Childbirth & labor; Cohort analysis; Complications; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Mental disorders; Mental health; Neonates; Pandemics; Parturition - psychology; Post traumatic stress disorder; Pregnancy; Prenatal depression; Prospective Studies; Psychological stress; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Risk reduction; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Womens health; COVID-19; traumatic childbirth; birth-related PTSD
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114246

Birth-related post-traumatic stress disorder occurs in 4.7% of mothers. No previous study focusing precisely on the stress factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic regarding this important public mental health issue has been conducted. However, the stress load brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic could have influenced this risk. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of traumatic childbirth and birth-related PTSD and to analyze the risk and protective factors involved, including the risk factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a prospective cohort study of women who delivered at the University Hospitals of Geneva between 25 January 2021 and 10 March 2022 with an assessment within 3 days of delivery and a clinical interview at one month post-partum. Among the 254 participants included, 35 (21.1%, 95% CI: 15.1-28.1%) experienced a traumatic childbirth and 15 (9.1%, 95% CI: 5.2-14.6%) developed a birth-related PTSD at one month post-partum according to DSM-5. Known risk factors of birth-related PTSD such as antenatal depression, previous traumatic events, neonatal complications, peritraumatic distress and peritraumatic dissociation were confirmed. Among the factors related to COVID-19, only limited access to prenatal care increased the risk of birth-related PTSD. This study highlights the challenges of early mental health screening during the maternity stay when seeking to provide an early intervention and reduce the risk of developing birth-related PTSD. We found a modest influence of stress factors directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic on this risk.