Prevalence and factors associated with postpartum posttraumatic stress in a population-based maternity survey in England
<p><strong>Background:</strong> Studies on prevalence and factors associated with postpartum posttraumatic stress (PTS) typically do not distinguish between PTS related to childbirth (PTS-C) and PTS related to other stressors (PTS-O). This study aimed to describe the prevalence, cl...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020
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| _version_ | 1797088860612591616 |
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| author | Harrison, SE Ayers, S Quigley, MA Stein, A Alderdice, F |
| author_facet | Harrison, SE Ayers, S Quigley, MA Stein, A Alderdice, F |
| author_sort | Harrison, SE |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | <p><strong>Background:</strong> Studies on prevalence and factors associated with postpartum posttraumatic stress (PTS) typically do not distinguish between PTS related to childbirth (PTS-C) and PTS related to other stressors (PTS-O). This study aimed to describe the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and factors associated with PTS-C and PTS-O in postpartum women.</p>
<p><strong>Methods:</strong> The study was a cross-sectional population-based survey of 16,000 postpartum women, selected at random from birth registrations in England to receive a postal questionnaire, including the Primary Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Screen.</p>
<p><strong>Results:</strong> Questionnaires were returned by 4,509 women. The median age was 32 years (IQR=29-36), 64% were married, 77% were UK-born, and 76% were White-British. Prevalence of PTS-C was 2.5% (95%CI:2.0-3.0) and prevalence of PTS-O was 6.8% (95%CI:6.0-7.8). Women with PTS-C were significantly more likely to report re-experiencing symptoms (Chi-Square=7.69,p<0.01). Factors associated with PTS-C were: higher level of deprivation, not having a health professional to talk to about sensitive issues during pregnancy, and the baby being admitted for neonatal intensive care. Factors associated with PTS-O were: age ≤24 years, depression during pregnancy, and having a pregnancy affected by long-term health problems. Factors associated with both were: living without a partner, anxiety during pregnancy, pregnancy-specific health problems, and lower birth satisfaction.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> PTS during the postpartum period is relatively common and, for many women, unrelated to childbirth. Increased awareness among health professionals of prevalence, clinical characteristics and factors associated with postpartum PTS-C and PTS-O will aid the development of appropriate management protocols to identify and support women during the perinatal period.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T02:56:10Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:af5d7b4b-8f81-41ba-9e83-b99a9183e74f |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T02:56:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:af5d7b4b-8f81-41ba-9e83-b99a9183e74f2022-03-27T03:49:06ZPrevalence and factors associated with postpartum posttraumatic stress in a population-based maternity survey in EnglandJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:af5d7b4b-8f81-41ba-9e83-b99a9183e74fEnglishSymplectic ElementsElsevier2020Harrison, SEAyers, SQuigley, MAStein, AAlderdice, F<p><strong>Background:</strong> Studies on prevalence and factors associated with postpartum posttraumatic stress (PTS) typically do not distinguish between PTS related to childbirth (PTS-C) and PTS related to other stressors (PTS-O). This study aimed to describe the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and factors associated with PTS-C and PTS-O in postpartum women.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> The study was a cross-sectional population-based survey of 16,000 postpartum women, selected at random from birth registrations in England to receive a postal questionnaire, including the Primary Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Screen.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> Questionnaires were returned by 4,509 women. The median age was 32 years (IQR=29-36), 64% were married, 77% were UK-born, and 76% were White-British. Prevalence of PTS-C was 2.5% (95%CI:2.0-3.0) and prevalence of PTS-O was 6.8% (95%CI:6.0-7.8). Women with PTS-C were significantly more likely to report re-experiencing symptoms (Chi-Square=7.69,p<0.01). Factors associated with PTS-C were: higher level of deprivation, not having a health professional to talk to about sensitive issues during pregnancy, and the baby being admitted for neonatal intensive care. Factors associated with PTS-O were: age ≤24 years, depression during pregnancy, and having a pregnancy affected by long-term health problems. Factors associated with both were: living without a partner, anxiety during pregnancy, pregnancy-specific health problems, and lower birth satisfaction.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> PTS during the postpartum period is relatively common and, for many women, unrelated to childbirth. Increased awareness among health professionals of prevalence, clinical characteristics and factors associated with postpartum PTS-C and PTS-O will aid the development of appropriate management protocols to identify and support women during the perinatal period.</p> |
| spellingShingle | Harrison, SE Ayers, S Quigley, MA Stein, A Alderdice, F Prevalence and factors associated with postpartum posttraumatic stress in a population-based maternity survey in England |
| title | Prevalence and factors associated with postpartum posttraumatic stress in a population-based maternity survey in England |
| title_full | Prevalence and factors associated with postpartum posttraumatic stress in a population-based maternity survey in England |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and factors associated with postpartum posttraumatic stress in a population-based maternity survey in England |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and factors associated with postpartum posttraumatic stress in a population-based maternity survey in England |
| title_short | Prevalence and factors associated with postpartum posttraumatic stress in a population-based maternity survey in England |
| title_sort | prevalence and factors associated with postpartum posttraumatic stress in a population based maternity survey in england |
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