The incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder following traumatic childbirth: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Although birth trauma may be a risk factor for postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), no systematic review regarding the incidence of postpartum PTSD in women with traumatic childbirth has been reported.

To estimate the incidence of PTSD in women following traumatic childbirth by systematically reviewing and synthesizing all available evidence.

Six databases were searched using a combination of related terms for birth trauma and PTSD.

Cohort and cross-sectional studies that were related to traumatic childbirth and PTSD were included.

Two reviewers independently screened potentially relevant studies and extracted key data elements. A series of meta-analyses were conducted using STATA 17.0 software, with pooled incidence rates estimated using random effects models.

A total of nine studies were included in this study. The pooled incidence of PTSD after traumatic childbirth was 19.4% (95% confidence interval 11.9%-26.5%). The incidence of PTSD varied with the scales used to assess traumatic birth and PTSD, evaluation times of PTSD after childbirth, and types of study participants.

The incidence of PTSD in women with traumatic childbirth is about 19%, higher than the general obstetric population, suggesting that trauma-related care for them should be enhanced.