Peer-reviewed article
The occurrence of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder among women in Johannesburg metropolitan clinics.
Pheto-Malikongwa BP, Motlhale M, Bridgmohun R, Hoffman D, Olashore A ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 88 women in Johannesburg clinics. Nearly half of the women (48.9%) perceived their childbirth as traumatic, but only one woman met full diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Women who viewed childbirth as traumatic were significantly more likely to report intrusion and avoidance symptoms. The researchers found no link between mode of childbirth or neonatal complications and PTSD symptoms.
Key points
- 48.9% of women perceived their most recent childbirth as a traumatic event
- Only 1.1% of participants endorsed all symptoms required to diagnose postpartum PTSD
- Perceiving childbirth as traumatic was significantly associated with intrusion/re-experiencing symptoms (OR = 3.7) and avoidance symptoms (OR = 3.3)
- No association found between mode of childbirth and PTSD symptom scores
- No association found between neonatal complications and PTSD symptom scores
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional with a small sample (n=88), so causality cannot be established and findings may not generalize beyond Johannesburg metropolitan clinics. The study does not report on interventions or long-term outcomes, and uses only screening tools rather than clinical diagnosis for most participants.
Abstract
Background Childbirth has been associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women, affecting mother-child bonding, foetal growth, cognitive development and marital relationships. However, there is a dearth of literature on postpartum PTSD in Africa. Aim The study aimed to investigate the occurrence of postpartum PTSD among women. Setting The study was conducted within Johannesburg metropolitan clinics. Methods The study included 88 women attending postnatal clinics in the metropolitan area. A questionnaire was used to collect data on their characteristics, obstetric and neonatal factors and perceived social support. The City Birth Trauma Scale was used to screen for postpartum PTSD symptoms. Data were analysed using R software with a significance level of 0.05. Results Almost half of the participants (48.9%) perceived their most recent childbirth as a traumatic event. One participant (1.1%; 95% CI: 0.0003-0.06) endorsed all symptoms required to diagnose PTSD. Endorsing childbirth as a traumatic event was significantly associated with reporting intrusion and/or re-experiencing symptoms (OR = 3.7) and avoidance symptoms (OR = 3.3). There was no association between the mode of childbirth and PTSD symptom scores. There is no association between the presence or absence of neonatal complications and PTSD symptom scores. Conclusion Although the occurrence was relatively low, our findings highlight the importance of routine screening and early intervention in maternal health services. Contribution There is need for further research to inform culturally relevant prevention and treatment strategies.