Mutsuhiro Furuta|Jane Sandall|D. Cooper|Debra Bick
The relationship between severe maternal morbidity and psychological health symptoms at 6–8 weeks postpartum: a prospective cohort study in one English maternity unit
Kyoto University|King's College School|King's College London|King's College School|King's College London|King's College London
incidence severe maternal morbidity increasing highincome countries however little known impact postnatal morbidity particularly psychological health outcomes objective study assess relationship severe maternal morbidity ie major obstetric haemorrhage severe hypertensive disorders intensive care unitobstetric high dependency unit admission postnatal psychological health symptoms focusing posttraumatic stress disorder ptsd symptoms 68 weeks postpartum prospective cohort study undertaken women gave birth six months 2010 inner city maternity unit england primary outcomes prevalence ptsd symptoms namely 1 intrusion 2 avoidance measured using impact event scale 6 8 weeks postpartum via selfadministered postal questionnaire secondary outcomes included probable depression data incidence severe maternal morbidity extracted maternity records multivariable logistic regression analysis examined relationship severe maternal morbidity ptsd symptoms taking account factors might influence relationship women eligible participate n3509 52 responded prevalence clinically significant level intrusion avoidance 64 n114 84 n150 respectively higher risk ptsd symptoms among women experienced severe maternal morbidity compared women adjusted 211 95ci 117378 intrusion adjusted 328 95ci 201536 avoidance higher ratings reported sense control labourbirth partially mediated risk ptsd symptoms statistically significant differences prevalence severity symptoms depression one largest studies date ptsd symptoms among women recently given birth findings showed experience severe maternal morbidity independently associated symptoms ptsd individually tailored care increases womens sense control labour may protective factor work required promote effective interventions prevent symptoms findings important implications womens health content organisation maternity services birth