Fear of Childbirth, Postpartum Depression, and Birth‐Related Variables as Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After Childbirth

• Published in: Worldviews on evidence-based nursing Vol. 15; no. 6; pp. 455 - 463
• Main Authors: Çapik, Ayla, Durmaz, Hatice
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-12-2018
• Subjects: Adult; birth‐related variables; childbirth; Childbirth & labor; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression, Postpartum - epidemiology; Depression, Postpartum - etiology; Depression, Postpartum - psychology; Fear & phobias; Fear - psychology; fear of childbirth; Female; Health risk assessment; Humans; Post traumatic stress disorder; Postpartum depression; Postpartum period; postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome - psychology; Quantitative analysis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Turkey - epidemiology; Womens health; Turkey; childbirth; birth-related variables; postpartum depression; fear of childbirth; postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder
• ISSN: 1545-102X; 1741-6787
• DOI: 10.1111/wvn.12326

Background
Childbirth may be a significant cause of postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women.
Aims
The objective of this study is to examine the effect of fear of childbirth, postpartum depression, and certain birth‐related variables on postpartum PTSD.
Methods
This study is a cross‐sectional study. The study was carried out in a maternity hospital nonstress unit between December 1, 2015, and February 29, 2016. Three hundred and one pregnant women who met the criteria for inclusion in the study made up the research sample.
Results
Fear of childbirth and postpartum depression significantly and positively predicted the level of posttraumatic stress after childbirth (β = 0.17, p < .01; β = 0.68, p < .001). Fear of childbirth explains 3% of the total variance in posttraumatic stress (R2 = .03, adjusted R2 = .02, F = 7.141, p < .01), while postpartum depression explains 47% of it (R2 = .47, adjusted R2 = .46, F = 196.35, p < .001). Satisfaction with the attitudes of the medical staff during childbirth, defining the childbirth experience, and the state of experiencing postpartum problems by the mother are significant predictors of postpartum posttraumatic stress (β = −0.21, p < .01; β = −0.14, p < .05; β = 0.17, p < .01). When these three variables are addressed together, they explain 14% of the total variance (R2 = .14, adjusted R2 = .13, F = 9.33, p < .001).
Linking Evidence to Action
Postpartum PTSD is a situation that must be carefully emphasized in terms of maternal, baby, and family health. For this reason, it is necessary to evaluate postpartum PTSD more quickly and objectively, and healthcare providers have major duties in this respect.