An Integrative Review Exploring Womens' Experiences of Retraumatization Within Perinatal Services.
Jennifer Gordon, Andrew Hunter, Fiona Callanan and 2 others
PMID 39036988WHAT IT FOUND
Women with trauma histories described perinatal care as retraumatizing when positions, intimate exams, poor communication, or loss of control reactivated past trauma.
They suggested asking permission, explaining actions, offering choices, and screening for trauma.
Key findings
01The review grouped activating events into four subthemes: positions in labor, intimate procedures, communications with health care professionals, and loss of control.
02Nine papers found intimate procedures such as vaginal examinations and cervical dilation assessments to be activating.
03Seven studies highlighted the importance of screening for past abuse.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The review reports experiences and suggestions, not tested interventions, so it cannot show that screening or trauma-informed care prevents retraumatization. Relevant studies may have been missed because of the inclusion criteria and methodological limitations. There were no recent randomized controlled trials on this topic, which limits what the review can say about impact. Three cohort studies were unclear about how they handled incomplete follow-up. Most included studies used English-speaking participants, and all participants were women aged 18 to 58 with reported sexual abuse, rape, or child sexual abuse.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the suggested screening and trauma-informed care steps as proven to reduce retraumatization. The review reports women's experiences and participant suggestions, not tested outcomes.