Childbirth Experience and Its Relationship with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Primiparous Women: A Cross-sectional Study

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 PhD Student, Student Research Committee, Schol of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Counseling Department, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

3 Associated Professor, Midwifery Department, Clinical Care Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

4 Associated Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran

5 Instructor, Midwifery Department, Clinical Care Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

Abstract

Background: Childbirth experience is one of the momentous experiences in women's lives, and identifying its relationship with psychological issues and its consequences can be a step towards improving the level of mental health of mothers; therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the birth experience and its relationship with post-traumatic stress disorder in primiparous women in 2023.
Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 420 eligible primiparous women referring to comprehensive health centers in Sanandaj city, who were selected in a cluster manner. The data collection tool included a demographic and clinical characteristics form, the childbirth experience, and city birth trauma questionnaires. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression and the Independent T-test. P < 0.05 was considered.
Findings: The study findings showed that the mean scores of birth experience and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the rate of dissociative symptoms were 2.84 ± 0.55, 18.21 ± 11.23, and 57.3%, respectively. Postpartum PTSD was significantly associated with education level (P = 0.006), having a companion during labor (P = 0.007), and spousal support (P = 0.004). With an increase in the birth experience score, the mean PTSD score decreased significantly (P = 0.001), and with an increase in the positive experience of childbirth, the rate of dissociative symptoms decreased (P = 0.001).
Conclusion: The childbirth experience score in Sanandaj women was relatively favorable. The average score of post-traumatic stress disorder was lower than the average of the entire scale, and factors such as the educational level of the participants, having a companion during labor, and the level of support from their spouse were related to it. There was also a negative and significant relationship between childbirth experience and post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociative symptoms, and creating a good and pleasant experience during labor and delivery for mothers reduces the incidence.

Highlights

Parya Foroughi: Google Scholar, PubMed

Anwar Dastbaz: Google Scholar, PubMed

Farzaneh Zaheri: Google Scholar, PubMed

Kamiar Mansouri: Google Scholar, PubMed

Leila Hasheminasab: Google Scholar, PubMed

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 43, Issue 805
1st Week, May
May and June 2025
Pages 146-154

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 September 2024
  • Accept Date: 22 February 2025

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