Women’s experiences of trauma, the psychosocial impact and health service needs during the perinatal period
Abstract Background Traumatic events are associated with psychological and physical health problems for women in the perinatal period (i.e., pregnancy-12-months after childbirth). Despite the negative impact of trauma on perinatal women, the long-term impact of such diverse trauma and women’s experi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05509-5 |
| _version_ | 1797863264472793088 |
|---|---|
| author | Essence Perera Sharon Chou Nicole Cousins Natalie Mota Kristin Reynolds |
| author_facet | Essence Perera Sharon Chou Nicole Cousins Natalie Mota Kristin Reynolds |
| author_sort | Essence Perera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Traumatic events are associated with psychological and physical health problems for women in the perinatal period (i.e., pregnancy-12-months after childbirth). Despite the negative impact of trauma on perinatal women, the long-term impact of such diverse trauma and women’s experience during the perinatal period remains understudied. Methods This study explored two research questions: 1) What are the psychological experiences of perinatal women who have experienced interpersonal traumatic events? And 2) What are the service needs and gaps expressed by women relating to perinatal medical protocols and psychological services? These questions were addressed via in-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews with nine perinatal women (one pregnant and eight postpartum) residing in central Canada who reported experiencing interpersonal traumatic events occurring from adolescence to the perinatal period. Recruitment and data collection occurred from October 2020 to June 2021. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed according to constructivist grounded theory. Results The emergent grounded theory model revealed the central theme of the role of prior trauma in shaping women’s perinatal experiences, with four related main themes including perinatal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of social support in women’s perinatal experiences, the barriers that women experienced while seeking psychological and medical services prior to the perinatal period and during the perinatal period, and the specific needs of perinatal women with a history of interpersonal trauma. Conclusions Findings of this research highlight the negative and long-lasting impact of traumatic events experienced on women’s psychological health and psychosocial functioning during the perinatal period, as well as perinatal women’s unmet psychological and medical service needs. A call to action for perinatal researchers and clinicians is imperative in furthering this important area of research and practicing person-centered and trauma-informed care with this population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:32:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-53de9d84d66e43cf8479b34e9011dfc4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:32:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj.art-53de9d84d66e43cf8479b34e9011dfc42023-03-22T12:39:09ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932023-03-0123111810.1186/s12884-023-05509-5Women’s experiences of trauma, the psychosocial impact and health service needs during the perinatal periodEssence Perera0Sharon Chou1Nicole Cousins2Natalie Mota3Kristin Reynolds4Department of Psychology, University of ManitobaDepartment of Psychology, University of ManitobaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of ManitobaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of ManitobaDepartment of Psychology, University of ManitobaAbstract Background Traumatic events are associated with psychological and physical health problems for women in the perinatal period (i.e., pregnancy-12-months after childbirth). Despite the negative impact of trauma on perinatal women, the long-term impact of such diverse trauma and women’s experience during the perinatal period remains understudied. Methods This study explored two research questions: 1) What are the psychological experiences of perinatal women who have experienced interpersonal traumatic events? And 2) What are the service needs and gaps expressed by women relating to perinatal medical protocols and psychological services? These questions were addressed via in-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews with nine perinatal women (one pregnant and eight postpartum) residing in central Canada who reported experiencing interpersonal traumatic events occurring from adolescence to the perinatal period. Recruitment and data collection occurred from October 2020 to June 2021. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed according to constructivist grounded theory. Results The emergent grounded theory model revealed the central theme of the role of prior trauma in shaping women’s perinatal experiences, with four related main themes including perinatal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of social support in women’s perinatal experiences, the barriers that women experienced while seeking psychological and medical services prior to the perinatal period and during the perinatal period, and the specific needs of perinatal women with a history of interpersonal trauma. Conclusions Findings of this research highlight the negative and long-lasting impact of traumatic events experienced on women’s psychological health and psychosocial functioning during the perinatal period, as well as perinatal women’s unmet psychological and medical service needs. A call to action for perinatal researchers and clinicians is imperative in furthering this important area of research and practicing person-centered and trauma-informed care with this population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05509-5Perinatal periodTraumaPsychological symptomsMedical careHealth service needsPsychological health |
| spellingShingle | Essence Perera Sharon Chou Nicole Cousins Natalie Mota Kristin Reynolds Women’s experiences of trauma, the psychosocial impact and health service needs during the perinatal period BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Perinatal period Trauma Psychological symptoms Medical care Health service needs Psychological health |
| title | Women’s experiences of trauma, the psychosocial impact and health service needs during the perinatal period |
| title_full | Women’s experiences of trauma, the psychosocial impact and health service needs during the perinatal period |
| title_fullStr | Women’s experiences of trauma, the psychosocial impact and health service needs during the perinatal period |
| title_full_unstemmed | Women’s experiences of trauma, the psychosocial impact and health service needs during the perinatal period |
| title_short | Women’s experiences of trauma, the psychosocial impact and health service needs during the perinatal period |
| title_sort | women s experiences of trauma the psychosocial impact and health service needs during the perinatal period |
| topic | Perinatal period Trauma Psychological symptoms Medical care Health service needs Psychological health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05509-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT essenceperera womensexperiencesoftraumathepsychosocialimpactandhealthserviceneedsduringtheperinatalperiod AT sharonchou womensexperiencesoftraumathepsychosocialimpactandhealthserviceneedsduringtheperinatalperiod AT nicolecousins womensexperiencesoftraumathepsychosocialimpactandhealthserviceneedsduringtheperinatalperiod AT nataliemota womensexperiencesoftraumathepsychosocialimpactandhealthserviceneedsduringtheperinatalperiod AT kristinreynolds womensexperiencesoftraumathepsychosocialimpactandhealthserviceneedsduringtheperinatalperiod |