A scoping review of effective health practices for the treatment of birth trauma

Abstract

Background: There is currently no consensus on the most effective health practices to manage or reduce the effects of birth trauma (BT) and childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD).

Aim: The aim was to map the current literature on effective health practices for BT/CB-PTSD, identify key elements (the what, when and how) important for effective health practices, and highlight gaps in maternity care.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across key nursing, allied, and medical databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, PubMed) for key terms related to (1) birth trauma and (2) intervention. Only peer-reviewed, English-language papers published since 2000 were included to ensure the relevance and timeliness of the findings. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 6,347 articles were identified through databases/registers and citation searching. After removing 1,342 duplicates, 5,005 were screened by title and abstract. A further 4,544 were excluded, leaving 461 for full-text screening. Afterf excluding another 433, 28 papers met inclusion for this review.

Findings: The first session delivered early (within the first 72 h of birth) by a clinician (midwife/psychologist/counsellor) significantly reduced BT/CB-PTSD in the short-term. Both trauma-focused and non-trauma-focused were supported at this stage, provided they were structured. If intervention is delayed (weeks to months post-birth), a trauma-focused, multi-session approach is recommended.

Discussion: Early, structured interventions should be considered routine care for women with BT/CB-PTSD, with more intensive, structured, trauma-focused approach for persistent symptoms. The potential role of digital mental health tools is promising, particularly for women in low-resource settings, but requires further research to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and sustainability.

Keywords: Birth trauma; Childbirth-related PTSD; Interventions; Review.