The occurrence of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Amongst Women in Johannesburg Metropolitan Clinics

Abstract

Increasing research demonstrates a significant association between childbirth and Post-traumatic stress Disorder (PTSD). Existing workdone suggests that childbirth is perceived as a traumatic event by some women and is a trigger of PTSD in the postpartum period. Postpartum PTSD is considered a public health problem as it may adversely affect the wellbeing of the mother and impair mother-child attachment as well as child development. Most of the existing work in this field has been undertaken in western and high income countries. Several gaps remain in the African setting. The currentstudy examined the occurrence of PTSD in the postpartum periodamongst women in Johannesburg metropolitan clinicsa nd associated factors. Eighty eightwomen who were six weeks postpartum were recruited from baby immunization clinics in the Johannesburg metropolitan district. Between September and December 2020, a researcher developed questionnaire was administered to collect participants’ socio-demographic data, delivery modeand neonatal complications. The City Birth Trauma scale was also administered to screen for the presence of PTSD symptoms in relation to the women’smost recent childbirth experience. Close to half of the participants (46.6%) endorsed their childbirth experience as a psychologically traumatic event. One participant (1.1%) reported all symptoms required to diagnose PTSD. Significantly more participants that reported childbirth as a traumatic event also reported experiencing intrusion/re-experiencing symptoms (Fisher’s test = 0.003, CI = 1.42 –9.99). Significantly more participants that endorsed childbirth as a traumatic event also reported having avoidance symptoms (Fisher’s test = 0.020, CI = 1.15 –10.17).