Parental Well-being After Childbirth in Switzerland

NCT06886841 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: G700026130408220494
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 4,200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Improving maternal and child health is a global priority, with increasing emphasis on ensuring women and their families not only survive but also thrive after childbirth. While high-income countries like Switzerland provide strong antenatal and intrapartum care, the quality of postnatal care often lags behind, despite the critical physical, mental, and social needs of the postpartum period. Studies indicate high rates of mental distress, physical pain, and sexual discomfort among mothers, alongside a lack of research on the well-being of co-parents. The main question this cohort study aims to answer is: how do the health and well-being of mothers and co-parents evolve during the first year after childbirth? Participants will complete four online questionnaires: the first within the first few days after birth, followed by additional assessments at 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum. This comprehensive approach seeks to inform policy and improve evidence-based postnatal care practices, benefiting approximately 80,000 families annually in Switzerland.

Conditions

Mental Health; Physical Health; Postpartum; Parents; Quality of Life; Quality of Care; Stress Disorder, Post Traumatic

Keywords

childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder; mental health; postpartum; parental wellbeing; physical health; sexual health; social support; quality of life; quality of care; postpartum depression; mothers; coparents

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder

  The prevalence of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder in both parents will be assessed using the validated City Birth Trauma Scale (City BiTS). This self-reported questionnaire consists of 29 items, 20 of which measure the frequency of trauma symptoms, including intrusive thoughts, avoidance, negative mood, and hyperarousal, based on the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). Items are rated using a four-point Likert-type scale, ranging from 0 to 3. The total score varies from 0 to 60 points, with higher scores indicating a higher level of PTSD-symptoms.

  2 months postpartum

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Postpartum depression and anxiety

  At birth, and at 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum

• Health-related quality of life

  At birth, and at 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum

• Physical recovery

  At birth (Obstetric Quality of Recovery-10), and at 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum (pain and incontinence)

• Sexual health

  6 and 12 months postpartum

• Hospitalisations

  From one year before to one year after childbirth

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 14 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

All adult women who give birth to one or more live-born or stillborn children at ≥22 weeks and/or with a birthweight of ≥500 grams in a participating unit during the study period will be eligible, along with their cohabiting partners.

You may qualify if:

• Women who give birth in a participating maternity unit or birth center during the study period.
• Partner of a participating women: the partner must be designated by the mother, live with her at the time of birth, and only one partner can be included per mother.
• Gestational age at birth: ≥22+0 weeks and/or birthweight ≥500 grams
• Age: Participants must be 14 years or older.
• Language Proficiency: Participants must have sufficient proficiency in one of Switzerland's main official languages (German, French, Italian) or English to ensure accurate communication and comprehension of study materials.

You may not qualify if:

• Refusal to participate
• Inability to provide informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Laurent Gaucher: lead

Study Sites (2)

Haute Ecole de Santé Genève

Geneva, 1206, Switzerland

RECRUITING

ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences

Winterthur, Switzerland

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Depression, Postpartum

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Puerperal Disorders; Pregnancy Complications; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorders

Study Officials

• Laurent Gaucher, RM, PhD

  Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Geneva, Switzerland.

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Laurent GAUCHER, PhD

CONTACT

+41 22 558 68 96; laurent.gaucher@hesge.ch

Elsa Lorthe, PhD

CONTACT

+41 22 558 79 54; elsa.lorthe@hesge.ch

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 12, 2025
• First Posted: March 20, 2025
• Study Start: March 17, 2025
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Last Updated: March 20, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF
• Time Frame: Undecided
• Access Criteria: Researchers will have access to the IPD and supporting information. Data access via the YARETA platform is subject to authorization by a competent authority.

Locations

CH (2)