Prevalence of Birth Trauma and Childbirth-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in UK Women: Results from the International Survey of Childbirth-Related Trauma

This study examined the prevalence of CBPTSD across the UK using the INTERSECT survey. Women (N=339) from 8 hospitals in England, Wales, and Scotland completed the survey 6–12 weeks postpartum. Results show 20.1% met DSM-5 Criterion A for a traumatic birth; of these, 5.9% met full CB-PTSD criteria, and 5% of these women had CB-PTSD with dissociative symptoms. CB-PTSD rates were highest in Scotland (15.8%) compared to England (4.5%) and Wales (5.0%). These rates exceed previous UK estimates. Differences across nations were not fully explained by demographics or birth factors, highlighting the need for further research.