Assessment of birth trauma

Aim: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of birth trauma in postpartum women and to identify factors that may influence the development of birth trauma. Methods: The sample consisted of 238 women at 6-12 weeks postpartum. Data were collected using the City Birth Trauma Scale (CityBiTS), a standardized tool that identifies a woman's potentially traumatic experiences during or after her last childbirth. The questionnaire was supplemented with sociodemographic data. Results: Nearly 11% of participants experienced some form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childbirth. The most intense symptoms were those belonging to the hyperarousal subscale, especially feelings of nervousness, tension, irritability, and aggression. Statistically significant differences in the prevalence of birth trauma were found with regard to the presence of a birth support person (<i>p </i>= 0.044) and week of gestation at the time of delivery (<i>p </i>= 0.001). Differences related to participants' age, education, and type of delivery were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that participants only experienced birth trauma symptoms to a small extent. The CityBiTS is a useful tool for measuring postpartum trauma. Women identified as having some form of PTSD should be referred for further psychological testing and psychological care.