Childbirth as a traumatic event for attendant fathers

Background: Negative reactions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth have been increasingly reported in mothers, particularly following objectively and subjectively difficult childbirth experiences. A small body of research has examined fathers' reactions to childbirth, with mixed results.Objective: The study aimed to further these studies, investigating whether objective and subjective aspects of fathers' participation in childbirth were related to levels of PTSD and fear of childbirth symptoms, in the first year following childbirth.Method: In total, 224 fathers whose partners had given birth within the previous 12 months answered online questionnaires that examined participation in childbirth, subjective appraisals, levels of fear of childbirth, and PTSD symptoms. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling, examining both direct and indirect effects.Results: Approximately 6% of fathers reported symptoms consistent with probable PTSD. Negative cognitions mediated the path between an emergency caesarean and PTSD. Fear of childbirth was related to emergency caesareans and lack of information from the medical team.Conclusions: Future studies should examine the level of fathers' participation, their subjective appraisal of childbirth, and fear of childbirth, when assessing fathers' reactions to childbirth. Fathers may report fear of childbirth, not just PTSD, following a traumatic childbirth.Negative appraisal mediates the relationship between an emergency caesarean and PTSD.Fear of childbirth is related to lower levels of information sharing by staff. Antecedentes: Se han informado cada vez m & aacute;s reacciones negativas tales como el TEPT despu & eacute;s del parto en las madres, particularmente despu & eacute;s de experiencias del parto objetiva y subjetivamente dif & iacute;ciles. Un peque & ntilde;o conjunto de investigaciones ha examinado las reacciones de los padres ante el parto, con resultados mixtos.Objetivo: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo ampliar estos estudios, investigando si los aspectos subjetivos y objetivos de la participaci & oacute;n de los padres en el parto se relacionaban a los niveles de TEPT y al miedo a los s & iacute;ntomas del parto, en el primer a & ntilde;o despu & eacute;s del parto.M & eacute;todo: 224 padres cuyas parejas hab & iacute;an dado a luz dentro de los 12 meses previos, contestaron cuestionarios en l & iacute;nea, que examinaba la participaci & oacute;n en el parto, las valoraciones subjetivas, los niveles de miedo al parto y s & iacute;ntomas de TEPT. Los datos se analizaron utilizando el modelo de ecuaci & oacute;n estructural que examina tanto los efectos directos como indirectos.Resultados: Aproximadamente 6% de los padres reportaron s & iacute;ntomas compatibles con un probable TEPT. Las cogniciones negativas mediaron la v & iacute;a entre la ces & aacute;rea de urgencia y TEPT. El miedo al parto se relacion & oacute; con la ces & aacute;rea de urgencia y la falta de informaci & oacute;n del equipo m & eacute;dico.Conclusiones: Los estudios futuros deber & iacute;an examinar los niveles de participaci & oacute;n de los padres, sus valoraciones subjetivas del parto, as & iacute; como tambi & eacute;n el miedo al parto cuando se eval & uacute;an las reacciones de los padres al parto.