Childbirth experiences of women with a history of physical, sexual, and child abuse: a cross-sectional study of 2,575 Russian women.

BACKGROUND: A substantial number of women who subsequently become pregnant and give birth have a history of physical, sexual, and/or child abuse. This study investigated the associations of these types of traumas and their cumulative effect with childbirth experiences, namely, mode of birth, maternal and child complications during pregnancy/childbirth, preterm birth, medical procedures, and obstetric violence during labour. METHODS: A group of Russian women (n = 2,575) who gave birth within the previous 12 months, completed a web-based survey, where they provided demographic information, details about their childbirth experiences, and a history of trauma. RESULTS: Women with any type of past abuse were at higher risk for maternal complications during pregnancy/childbirth (exp(ß) < 0.73, p < 0.010 for all). More specific to the type of trauma were associations of physical abuse with caesarean birth, child abuse with complications during pregnancy/childbirth for the baby, and physical and child abuse with obstetric violence (exp(ß) < 0.54, p < 0.022 for all). There was a cumulative effect of trauma for all the outcomes except for medical procedures during childbirth and preterm birth. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into potential different individual effects of physical, sexual, and/or child abuse as well as their cumulative impact on the childbirth experiences. The robust findings about maternal complications during pregnancy/childbirth and obstetric violence highlight the importance of trauma-informed care, supportive policies, and interventions to create safe and empowering birthing environments that prioritise patient autonomy, dignity, and respectful communication.

Parental burnout, depression and emotional development of the preschoolers.

Introduction: Parental burnout is becoming more and more prevalent in the world, mainly incultures with high demands towards parents. Parental burnout is distinctive from depression and might have its unique influence on child development, which isunder current international research. This work contributes to the understanding of parental burnout, maternal depression and child emotional development(specifically emotion comprehension) interrelations. Additionally, we explored whether there are differences in the effects of parental burnout and depressionon boys and girls. Methods: To analyse the emotional development of the preschoolers, the Russian version of the Test of Emotional Comprehension (TEC) was used. We used the Russian version of the Parental Burnout Inventory (PBI) to analyse the level of PB and the Russian version of Beck depression Inventory (BDI) to assess participants' depression level. Results: Parental burnout positively correlates with child emotional comprehension skills, specifically understanding of external causes (B = 0.20, CI: 0.03; 0.37) and mental causes of emotions (B = 0.22, CI: 0.05; 0.40). This effect is gender dependent and is significantlyhigher for girls (B = 0.54, CI: 0.09; 0.98). The effect of maternal depression on emotion comprehension skills is also gender dependent: total scores on emotioncomprehension tasks are significantly higher for daughters of mothers with depression (B = 0.59, CI: 0.001; 1.18). Discussion: Maternal depression and parental burnout might provoke development of extra sensitivity and self-regulation strategies in girls.

Past Traumatic Life Events, Postpartum PTSD, and the Role of Labor Support.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD) symptoms and subjective rates of traumatic birth experience with past traumatic life events (physical and sexual assault, child abuse, perinatal loss, previous traumatic birth experience, and the cumulative traumatic experience). A sample of Russian women (n = 2579) who gave birth within the previous 12 months, filled in a web-based survey, where they reported demographic and obstetric characteristics and past traumatic experiences, evaluated their birth experience (0 = not traumatic, 10 = extremely traumatic), and completed the City Birth Trauma Scale (CBiTS). We found that PP-PTSD symptoms were higher among women who previously experienced physical (F = 22.02, p < 0.001) and sexual (F = 15.98, p < 0.001) assault and child abuse (F = 69.25, p < 0.001), with only associations with child abuse (F = 21.14, p < 0.001) remaining significant for subjective rates of traumatic birth experience. Perinatal loss and previous traumatic birth showed moderate but inconsistent effects. Support during labor did not have a buffering effect for participants with past traumatic experiences but showed a universally protective effect against PP-PTSD. Trauma-informed practices and allowing women to have a supportive birth team of choice during childbirth are promising avenues to minimize the incidence of PP-PTSD and improve the childbirth experience for all women.

Long-Term Effects of Maternal Depression during Postpartum and Early Parenthood Period on Child Socioemotional Development.

Most research on the impact of maternal depressive symptoms on child development is conducted during the first year postpartum. Findings on long-term effects of maternal depression are still contradictory and underexplored. The present study investigates the long-term impact of maternal depression during the postpartum and early parenthood periods on child behavioral problems at the mean age of 2.25 years. The Edinburgh postnatal depression scale and Beck depression Inventory were used to assess postpartum and early parenthood depression, respectively. The Child Behavior Checklist was used to examine child's behavioral problems. The regression analysis showed statistically significant associations between child behavioral problems and maternal depression during early parenthood and no significant associations with postpartum depression. Four maternal depressive symptoms' trajectories were identified: consistently low, consistently high, decreased, and increased. The children of mothers with consistently high depressive symptoms at both research stages had the most significant total, internalizing, and externalizing problems. Children of mothers whose depressive symptoms decreased over time had the lowest scores in all three domains of behavioral problems. It is extremely important to implement programs for screening and early intervention for maternal mental health problems that could greatly influence the well-being of women and their children's development.

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on birth satisfaction and birth experiences in Russian women.

Background: Women's satisfaction with their childbirth experiences has significant impacts on their health and the health of their children. Recently, childbirth and maternity care systems have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the association of birth satisfaction with mode of birth, medical interventions, support during labour, type of childbirth healthcare plan and antenatal education in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia. Methods: 1,645 Russian women who gave birth during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and 611 matched controls who gave birth in the previous year participated in an anonymous Internet survey about their childbirth experience. The survey included questions regarding women's demographic and obstetric characteristics as well as their childbirth experiences. Birth satisfaction was measured using the Birth Satisfaction Scale Revised Indicator (BSS-RI). Results: Birth satisfaction scores did not show notable changes before and during the pandemic (Pearson Chi-square = 19.7, p = 0.22). Women had lower BSS-RI scores if they tested positive for COVID-19 during labour (F = 9.18, p = 0.002), but not during pregnancy or postpartum (p > 0.32). In both cohorts women who had vaginal births rated birth satisfaction higher than those who had caesarean births. The more medical interventions there were, the lower were the BSS-RI scores (B = -0.234, 95% CI: -0.760; -0.506, p < 0.001), but only during the pandemic. Birth satisfaction was higher if women had a support person present during labour (F > 7.44, p < 0.001), which was not possible for over 70% of participants during the pandemic. In both cohorts birth satisfaction was associated with the childbirth healthcare plan (F > 5.27, p < 0.001), but not with antenatal education (F < 0.15, p > 0.43). Conclusions: Our study highlights the significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the birth experiences of Russian women. Sustaining the rights of women to informed decisions during labour, respect for their preferred childbirth healthcare plan, presence of the birth team of choice and professional support for home birth are essential for higher birth satisfaction and better health outcomes for mothers and their infants.

Postpartum PTSD and birth experience in Russian-speaking women.

OBJECTIVE: The principal goal of this study was to examine risk factors for postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as mode of birth, obstetric violence and medical interventions during labor, in Russia. This study is also the first attempt to investigate the association between the support during labor and postpartum PTSD in a Russian sample. RESEARCH DESIGN: 611 Russian-speaking mothers aged 18 to 45 years (M = 31.2 + 4.5) filled in the online form, which included Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the City Birth Trauma Scale and survey on demographic characteristics and childbirth experience within one year after birth. FINDINGS: Among the participants 45.7% had clinically significant depressive symptoms and 15% fulfilled all the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Postpartum PTSD symptoms were higher among women who had a cesarean vs vaginal birth (p = 0.009), women with medical interventions (p = 0.043) and women who experienced obstetric violence (p < 0.001) during childbirth. The more interventions they had and the more instances of obstetric violence they experienced, the higher were the PTSD symptoms (B = 1.03, 95% CI 0.23; 1.84, p = 0.012 and B = 5.08, 95% CI 3.80; 6.37, p < 0.001, respectively). The presence of a partner or a personal midwife/doula at birth was associated with lower rates of cesarean birth, fewer medical interventions and less obstetric violence (p <  0.017 for all). KEY CONCLUSIONS: Postpartum PTSD is widespread in Russia, and the problem of obstetric violence and overuse of medical interventions has a systematic nature. Increased availability of individual continuous support during labor and the development of professional midwife and doula communities might be a potential avenue to address these problems. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Our findings emphasize the importance of ethics in patient-doctor communication in the maternal healthcare system and the role of support during labor, which is still not widely available in Russia.

Postpartum Depression and Birth Experience in Russia.

Background: In European countries, postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in 13-19% of women. The statistics indicate that postpartum depressive disorders affect up to 300,000 women in Russia annually. There is still an extremely acute lack of psychological comfort provided to women during labor in Russia. Objective: To our knowledge, ours is the first study that examines the association between childbirth experience and the risk of PPD in Russia. Design: We collected data from 190 Russian-speaking mothers, ages 19 to 46, (M = 32 ± 4.3) two months after their delivery. Results: Birth satisfaction and physical well-being two months after delivery were significantly inversely associated with PPD. Birth satisfaction negatively correlated with the perceived severity and unpredictability of labor, and positively correlated with physical well-being two months after delivery. The presence of a partner and a personal midwife or doula at birth was associated with higher birth satisfaction. Conclusions: Our results emphasize the significance of childbirth satisfaction in the context of PPD and suggest the importance of individual professional support during labor.

Perinatal Depression, Birth Experience, Marital Satisfaction and Childcare Sharing: A Study in Russian Mothers.

BACKGROUND: Over 300,000 women in Russia face perinatal depressive disorders every year, according to the data for middle-income countries. This study is the first attempt to perform a two-phase study of perinatal depressive disorders in Russia. The paper examines risk factors for perinatal depressive symptoms, such as marital satisfaction, birth experience, and childcare sharing. METHODS: At 15-40 gestational weeks (M = 30.7, SD = 6.6), 343 Russian-speaking women, with a mean age of 32 years (SD = 4.4), completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Couples Satisfaction Index, Birth Satisfaction Scale, and provided socio-demographic data. Two months after childbirth, 190 of them participated in the follow-up. RESULTS: The follow-up indicated that 36.4% of participants suffered from prenatal depression and 34.3% of participants had postnatal depression. Significant predictors of prenatal depression were physical well-being during pregnancy (ß = -0.25; p = 0.002) and marital satisfaction during pregnancy (ß = -0.01; p = 0.018). Birth satisfaction (ß = -0.08; p = 0.001), physical well-being at two months after delivery (ß = -0.36; p < 0.01), and marital satisfaction during pregnancy (ß = 0.01; p = 0.016) and after delivery (ß = -0.02; p < 0.01) significantly predicted postnatal depression at 2 months after delivery. CONCLUSION: Our study identified that physical well-being during pregnancy and marital satisfaction during pregnancy significantly predicted prenatal depression. Birth satisfaction, physical well-being at 2 months after delivery, and marital satisfaction during pregnancy and after delivery significantly predicted postnatal depression. To our knowledge, this is the first study of perinatal depressive disorders in the context of marital satisfaction and birth satisfaction in the Russian sample. The problem of unequal childcare sharing is widely spread in Russia. Adjusting spousal expectations and making arrangements for childcare may become the focus of psychological work with the family. The availability of psychological support during pregnancy and labor may be important in the context of reducing perinatal depression risks.

Birth Experience, Postpartum PTSD and Depression before and during the Pandemic of COVID-19 in Russia.

The aim of the study is to investigate the changes in the maternal healthcare system during the pandemic and their associations with maternal mental health in Russia. A sample of Russian women who gave birth during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 1645) and matched controls, i.e., women who gave birth before the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 611), completed an anonymous Internet survey about recent childbirth. They were assessed for childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and postpartum depression (PPD). Clinically relevant symptoms of PPD and PTSD were high before the pandemic and showed no significant change during the pandemic (p = 0.48 and p = 0.64, respectively). We found a notable increase in the frequency of obstetric violence (p = 0.015) during the pandemic, which, in turn, has a strong correlation with birth-related PTSD and PPD. The problem of ethical communication with patients among maternal healthcare professionals is acute in Russia, and it has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Family and doula support during labor can be a potential protective factor against obstetric violence.

Associations Between Executive Functions and Physical Fitness in Preschool Children.

Considering the current agreement on the significance of executive functions, there is growing interest in determining factors that contribute to the development of these skills, especially during the preschool period. Although multiple studies have been focusing on links between physical activity, physical fitness and executive functions, this topic was more investigated in schoolchildren and adults than in preschoolers. The aim of the current study was to identify different levels of physical fitness among pre-schoolers, followed by an analysis of differences in their executive functions. Participants were 261 5-6-years old children. Inhibitory control and working memory were positively linked with physical fitness. Cognitive flexibility was not associated with physical fitness. The research findings are considered from neuropsychological grounds, Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, and the cultural-historical approach.