Assessment of childbirth-related PTSD: Psychometric properties of the Ukrainian version of the City Birth Trauma Scale.

What is it about?

Childbirth‑related posttraumatic stress disorder (CB‑PTSD) remains largely invisible in public discourse. Even in peaceful settings, it is rarely discussed. In the context of war—marked by constant threat, displacement, mobilization, and widespread war‑related trauma—the psychological impact of childbirth can be even more easily overlooked. When survival itself is at stake, trauma linked specifically to birth may remain unrecognized, undiagnosed, and untreated. Our study shows that this silence has consequences. In Ukraine, 6.2% of women met full diagnostic criteria for CB‑PTSD, meaning that roughly one in sixteen mothers experienced clinically significant trauma related to childbirth. The burden extends well beyond this group. More than one‑third of women (37%) reported that during childbirth they feared serious injury or death—either their own or their baby’s, fulfilling Criterion A of the DSM‑5. Over half of the participants reported re‑experiencing symptoms and persistent negative cognitions and mood, while more than 70% experienced hyperarousal, such as heightened vigilance or difficulty sleeping. Avoidance symptoms were present in approximately one in five women.

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Photo by Richard Bell on Unsplash

Photo by Richard Bell on Unsplash

Why is it important?

These findings highlight an urgent need for attention. By validating the Ukrainian version of the City Birth Trauma Scale, our study provides a practical solution. Reliable and culturally adapted instruments make it possible to identify affected mothers early, open conversations that are often silenced, and offer timely, targeted support.

Perspectives