Prevalence of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder and associated factors among postnatal mothers in West Arsi zone, South West Ethiopia, 2024: a community-based cross-sectional study

Solomon Seyife Alemu; Mohammedamin Hajure Jarso; Negeso Gebeyehu Gejo; Habtemu Jarso Hebo; Daniel Yohannes Bedecha; Firomsa Bekele; Wubishet Gezimu; Addisalem Workie Demsash; Sheleme Mengistu Teferi; Gemeda Wakgari Kitil; Geleta Nenko Dube; Awol Arega Yimer; Berhanu Negese Kebede; Gemechu Gelan Bekele; Lema Fikadu Wedajo

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1470819

Prevalence of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder and associated factors among postnatal mothers in West Arsi zone, South West Ethiopia, 2024: a community-based cross-sectional study

Front Psychiatry. 2024 Oct 28:15:1470819. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1470819. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Solomon Seyife Alemu¹, Mohammedamin Hajure Jarso², Negeso Gebeyehu Gejo¹, Habtemu Jarso Hebo³, Daniel Yohannes Bedecha¹, Firomsa Bekele⁴, Wubishet Gezimu⁵, Addisalem Workie Demsash⁶, Sheleme Mengistu Teferi⁷, Gemeda Wakgari Kitil⁸, Geleta Nenko Dube⁹, Awol Arega Yimer¹⁰, Berhanu Negese Kebede¹⁰, Gemechu Gelan Bekele¹, Lema Fikadu Wedajo¹¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Midwifery, College of Health Science, Madda Walabu University, Shashemene, Ethiopia.
² Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Science, Madda Walabu University, Shashemene, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Madda Walabu University, Shashemene, Ethiopia.
⁴ Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Science, Wallaga University, Nekemte, Ethiopia.
⁵ Department of Nursing, College of Health Science, Mattu University, Mattu, Ethiopia.
⁶ Department of Health Informatics, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Debrebirhan, Ethiopia.
⁷ Department of Midwifery, College of Health Science, Madda Walabu University, Bale Goba, Ethiopia.
⁸ Department of Midwifery, College of Health Science, Mattu University, Mattu, Ethiopia.
⁹ Department of Health Informatics, College of Health Science, Mattu University, Mattu, Ethiopia.
¹⁰ Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
¹¹ Department of Midwifery, Institute of Health Science, Wallaga University, Nekemte, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Up to one-third of women globally experience giving birth as traumatic, which can lead to postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder. Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorders have significant health consequences for the mother, child, and other family members. Although it has tragic health impacts, little is known about this problem in the study area.

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder and associated factors among postnatal mothers.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was employed among 635 mothers in the first year after childbirth by using simple random sampling techniques from March 20 to April 20, 2024 in West Arsi zone, Ethiopia. Face-to-face interviewers administered structured questionnaires that were used to collect the data. The collected data were cleaned, coded, and entered into Epidata and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences for further analysis. Both bivariate and multivariable analyses were done by using binary logistic regression.

Result: Out of 635, 624 postnatal mothers participated in the study, for a response rate of 98.27%. The prevalence of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder was 21.60% (95% CI: 18.40%, 24.87%). Primiparous mothers (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.38, 3.70), have no antenatal care follow-up (AOR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.47, 4.20), cesarean section delivery (AOR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.50, 5.61), instrumental delivery (AOR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.75, 5.34), maternal morbidity (AOR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.71, 5.05), and postpartum intimate partner violence (AOR = 7.43, 95% CI: 4.53, 12.20) were the identified factors.

Conclusion and recommendation: As identified, one out of five mothers had postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder. Thus, healthcare providers should focus on identified factors like cesarean section and instrumental deliveries while counseling, as this enhances the mothers' psychological readiness. In addition, the West Arsi Zonal Health Office should develop effective strategies to alleviate the problem by focusing on the identified factors.

Keywords: Ethiopia; West Arsi; mothers; postpartum; posttraumatic stress disorder.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The Madda Walabu University Sheshemene campus provided support for stationary materials and duplicate questionnaires, but the research was not funded. The organization was not involved in the planning, gathering, or analysis of the study’s data. Furthermore, the organization was not involved in the manuscript’s preparation or publication decision. No funds were provided to the authors on behalf of any organization.