Abstract:

This review discussed the incidence and risk factors that were associated with traumatic childbirth, as well as the impact of traumatic childbirth on women and their infants. There is still no consensus on the definition of traumatic childbirth in the literature. The incidence rate of traumatic childbirth, ranges from 14.3% to 45.5%. Most of the studies included in this review, evaluated traumatic childbirth, according to DSM fourth edition criteria; and no studies have evaluated it according to the fifth edition. The most common risk factor of traumatic childbirth identified in the literature were history of mental illness, previous history of trauma and sexual abuse, Medical events during childbirth, lack of social support, lack of coping skills, and fear of childbirth. Findings in the literature have emphasized the profound impact of traumatic childbirth, on the health of mothers and their infants, so it is important to identify risk factors of traumatic childbirth so that, appropriate policies and measurements can be designed to prevent traumatic childbirth. Much of the current literature focuses on the incidence and risk factors of traumatic childbirth; further research is needed to investigate the impact of traumatic childbirth on mother and their infants, in particular the impact of traumatic childbirth on the physical health of the mother. Finally, Most of the published studies were conducted in developed societies; further studies are needed to be conducted in developing countries. Conducting such research may reveal cross-cultural differences.