POLICY BRIEF: Traumatic Birth and Childbirth-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Improving Mental Health Care in Maternity Services in Malawi.

Abstract

The Policy brief on childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD), examines into critical issue of perinatal mental health, focusing on traumatic birth. Traumatic birth experiences and subsequent CB-PTSD symptoms can cause substantial suffering and have major long-term health implications with extremely distressing mental disorder for women, their infants, and families (Ayers et al., 2024; Horsch et al., 2024). This research sheds light on CB-PTSD which refers to the psychological symptoms that develop after or a direct consequence of having had a traumatic birth.

The Policy brief highlights the requirement for improved mental healthcare services, recognizing the lack of mental health screening and little evidence on how to best assess, prevent, and treat CB-PTSD (Horsch et al., 2024). It emphasizes the role of addressing the risk factors for CB-PTSD by incorporating strategies to promote continuity of care, good support and communication during pregnancy, continuous one-to-one support during labor into practice (Horsch et al., 2024; Thomson et al., 2021). The policy brief promotes respect to women’s rights to autonomy before, during, after birth, and responsive care. The Policy brief underscores the importance of collaborative efforts, research-driven interventions, and policy guidance on the prevention, care, and treatment initiatives to address traumatic birth and CB-PTSD.