The current status of psychological birth trauma in women who had a vaginal delivery and associated factors: a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study

ObjectiveIndividuals vary in their perception of psychological birth trauma (PBT), with some individuals progressing to postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD). However, from both preventive and developmental perspectives, PBT and PP-PTSD have received limited attention in China. This st...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hong Qin, Weiwei Wei, Xiaoyan Feng, Xiaochang Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1539305/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850085601723809792
author Hong Qin
Hong Qin
Weiwei Wei
Xiaoyan Feng
Xiaochang Yang
author_facet Hong Qin
Hong Qin
Weiwei Wei
Xiaoyan Feng
Xiaochang Yang
author_sort Hong Qin
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveIndividuals vary in their perception of psychological birth trauma (PBT), with some individuals progressing to postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD). However, from both preventive and developmental perspectives, PBT and PP-PTSD have received limited attention in China. This study examines the prevalence and influencing factors of PBT among women who underwent vaginal delivery in Chongqing, China, at 3 days and 42 days postpartum, as well as the correlation between perceived PP-PTSD and PBT, aiming to enhance understanding in this field.MethodsThis questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was conducted on women who had a vaginal delivery admitted to a grade III-A general hospital using convenience sampling between February and April of 2024. Participants were questioned using a general questionnaire, the Birth Trauma Perception Scale for Women During Vaginal Delivery (BTPS-WVD) scale, and the Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale (PP-PTSD) at 3 and 42 days postpartum. Univariate and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with PBT at 42 days postpartum. Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between PBT and PP-PTSD in women who had a vaginal delivery.ResultsThe average score of PBT at 3 and 42 days postpartum were (43.37 ± 9.46) and (51.40 ± 13.54) respectively, the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the dimensions of medical support trauma perception, delivery pain trauma perception, family support trauma perception, and delivery outcome trauma perception (p < 0.05). The average score of PP-PTSD at 3 and 42 days postpartum were (22.38 ± 7.13) and (22.29 ± 5.77) respectively, with no statistical significance (p > 0.05). The positive rate of PP-PTSD (score ≥ 38) at 3 and 42 days postpartum were 5 and 2%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that, feeding mode, the effect of breast swelling on mood, mother separate from the newborn, separation time between mother and newborn, place of puerperium, psychological discomfort caused by delivering with others, use of epidural anesthesia, delivery time, advise others to deliver vaginally, the effects of wound pain, time of the postnatal wound pain and who decides on abnormal delivery were independently associated with PBT (p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that, mother separate from the newborn, separation time between mother and newborn, place of puerperium, psychological discomfort caused by delivering with others, the effects of wound pain, time of wound pain, who decides on abnormal delivery were independently associated with PBT (p < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that, PBT and its four dimensions were positively correlated with PP-PTSD (r = 0.488, p < 0.001).ConclusionWomen who experienced PBT during vaginal delivery reported significantly higher levels of perceived trauma at 42 days postpartum compared to 3 days postpartum. Clinical staff, family, and society should pay attention to the risk factors and take corresponding intervention measures to reduce the degree of PBT and promote maternal and child health.
format Article
id doaj-art-5f235908fc2b4f73bba9e012df065866
institution DOAJ
issn 2296-2565
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Public Health
spelling doaj-art-5f235908fc2b4f73bba9e012df0658662025-08-20T02:43:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-02-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15393051539305The current status of psychological birth trauma in women who had a vaginal delivery and associated factors: a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional studyHong Qin0Hong Qin1Weiwei Wei2Xiaoyan Feng3Xiaochang Yang4Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaObjectiveIndividuals vary in their perception of psychological birth trauma (PBT), with some individuals progressing to postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD). However, from both preventive and developmental perspectives, PBT and PP-PTSD have received limited attention in China. This study examines the prevalence and influencing factors of PBT among women who underwent vaginal delivery in Chongqing, China, at 3 days and 42 days postpartum, as well as the correlation between perceived PP-PTSD and PBT, aiming to enhance understanding in this field.MethodsThis questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was conducted on women who had a vaginal delivery admitted to a grade III-A general hospital using convenience sampling between February and April of 2024. Participants were questioned using a general questionnaire, the Birth Trauma Perception Scale for Women During Vaginal Delivery (BTPS-WVD) scale, and the Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale (PP-PTSD) at 3 and 42 days postpartum. Univariate and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with PBT at 42 days postpartum. Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between PBT and PP-PTSD in women who had a vaginal delivery.ResultsThe average score of PBT at 3 and 42 days postpartum were (43.37 ± 9.46) and (51.40 ± 13.54) respectively, the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the dimensions of medical support trauma perception, delivery pain trauma perception, family support trauma perception, and delivery outcome trauma perception (p < 0.05). The average score of PP-PTSD at 3 and 42 days postpartum were (22.38 ± 7.13) and (22.29 ± 5.77) respectively, with no statistical significance (p > 0.05). The positive rate of PP-PTSD (score ≥ 38) at 3 and 42 days postpartum were 5 and 2%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that, feeding mode, the effect of breast swelling on mood, mother separate from the newborn, separation time between mother and newborn, place of puerperium, psychological discomfort caused by delivering with others, use of epidural anesthesia, delivery time, advise others to deliver vaginally, the effects of wound pain, time of the postnatal wound pain and who decides on abnormal delivery were independently associated with PBT (p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that, mother separate from the newborn, separation time between mother and newborn, place of puerperium, psychological discomfort caused by delivering with others, the effects of wound pain, time of wound pain, who decides on abnormal delivery were independently associated with PBT (p < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that, PBT and its four dimensions were positively correlated with PP-PTSD (r = 0.488, p < 0.001).ConclusionWomen who experienced PBT during vaginal delivery reported significantly higher levels of perceived trauma at 42 days postpartum compared to 3 days postpartum. Clinical staff, family, and society should pay attention to the risk factors and take corresponding intervention measures to reduce the degree of PBT and promote maternal and child health.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1539305/fullpuerperiumpsychological birth traumapostpartum post-traumatic stress disordervaginal deliveryinfluencing factors
spellingShingle Hong Qin
Hong Qin
Weiwei Wei
Xiaoyan Feng
Xiaochang Yang
The current status of psychological birth trauma in women who had a vaginal delivery and associated factors: a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study
Frontiers in Public Health
puerperium
psychological birth trauma
postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder
vaginal delivery
influencing factors
title The current status of psychological birth trauma in women who had a vaginal delivery and associated factors: a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study
title_full The current status of psychological birth trauma in women who had a vaginal delivery and associated factors: a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study
title_fullStr The current status of psychological birth trauma in women who had a vaginal delivery and associated factors: a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed The current status of psychological birth trauma in women who had a vaginal delivery and associated factors: a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study
title_short The current status of psychological birth trauma in women who had a vaginal delivery and associated factors: a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study
title_sort current status of psychological birth trauma in women who had a vaginal delivery and associated factors a questionnaire based cross sectional study
topic puerperium
psychological birth trauma
postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder
vaginal delivery
influencing factors
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1539305/full
work_keys_str_mv AT hongqin thecurrentstatusofpsychologicalbirthtraumainwomenwhohadavaginaldeliveryandassociatedfactorsaquestionnairebasedcrosssectionalstudy
AT hongqin thecurrentstatusofpsychologicalbirthtraumainwomenwhohadavaginaldeliveryandassociatedfactorsaquestionnairebasedcrosssectionalstudy
AT weiweiwei thecurrentstatusofpsychologicalbirthtraumainwomenwhohadavaginaldeliveryandassociatedfactorsaquestionnairebasedcrosssectionalstudy
AT xiaoyanfeng thecurrentstatusofpsychologicalbirthtraumainwomenwhohadavaginaldeliveryandassociatedfactorsaquestionnairebasedcrosssectionalstudy
AT xiaochangyang thecurrentstatusofpsychologicalbirthtraumainwomenwhohadavaginaldeliveryandassociatedfactorsaquestionnairebasedcrosssectionalstudy
AT hongqin currentstatusofpsychologicalbirthtraumainwomenwhohadavaginaldeliveryandassociatedfactorsaquestionnairebasedcrosssectionalstudy
AT hongqin currentstatusofpsychologicalbirthtraumainwomenwhohadavaginaldeliveryandassociatedfactorsaquestionnairebasedcrosssectionalstudy
AT weiweiwei currentstatusofpsychologicalbirthtraumainwomenwhohadavaginaldeliveryandassociatedfactorsaquestionnairebasedcrosssectionalstudy
AT xiaoyanfeng currentstatusofpsychologicalbirthtraumainwomenwhohadavaginaldeliveryandassociatedfactorsaquestionnairebasedcrosssectionalstudy
AT xiaochangyang currentstatusofpsychologicalbirthtraumainwomenwhohadavaginaldeliveryandassociatedfactorsaquestionnairebasedcrosssectionalstudy