Interplay of traumatic birth experiences and postnatal depression in Pakistani women

Postnatal depression is a global challenge for healthcare system, affecting a large number of mothers globally. The present study was designed to examine the role of obstetric factors such as delivery method, birth complications, perceived birth trauma, and satisfaction with childbirth in postnatal depression (PND) among Pakistani women. By adopting a cross-sectional research design, a purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from the 335 women within the postpartum period (42-84 days) from six public and private hospitals and clinics of Punjab, Pakistan. Age of the sample ranged between 18 and 47 years (M = 29.41, SD = 5.32). Demographic and Birth Information sheet, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised were used to collect data for hypotheses testing. After assessing intercorrelations between the study variables, a hierarchical regression analysis was run by controlling age and education. The results showed that a significant amount of variance (R² = 0.39) in PND was accounted for by low birth satisfaction, mother birth complications, previous birth trauma, and birth trauma perception. The findings suggest that providing a secure, respectful, and supportive environment during childbirth can substantially reduce the risk of PND. Positive childbirth experiences-characterized by care, respect, and fulfillment of psychological needs-serve as protective factors against PND. Study has implications for researchers, midwives, and obstetricians.