title: Posttraumatic Stress in Mothers Related to Giving Birth Prematurely: A Mixed Research Synthesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Globally the preterm birth rate for 184 countries in 2010 was 11.1%. Preterm births can be a traumatic experience for mothers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article provides a mixed research synthesis of the quantitative and qualitative studies on posttraumatic stress in mothers who have given birth prematurely.
  
  
  METHODS
  Narrative synthesis was the mixed research synthesis approach used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Included in this narrative synthesis were quantitative prevalence studies ( n = 19), quantitative intervention studies ( n = 6), and qualitative studies ( n = 5). Prevalence rates ranged from 14% to 79%. Four of the intervention studies had significant results and two did not. Qualitative data synthesis revealed five themes: (a) shocked and horrified, (b) consuming guilt, (c) pervasive anxiety and hypervigilance, (d) intrusive thoughts, and (e) numbing and avoiding reminders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women's traumatic experiences of preterm birth are clearly important issues for psychiatric nurses to address.
authors.affiliation: 1 Cheryl Tatano Beck, DNSc, CNM, FAAN, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl Tatano
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.affiliation: 2 Lisa Harrison, MSN, PMHNP, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000523:psychology*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012107:Research Design; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: childbearing; mixed research synthesis; posttraumatic stress; preterm birth; psychiatric nursing