Parental Well-being After Childbirth in Switzerland

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Mental Health, Physical Health, Postpartum, Parents, Quality of Life, Quality of Care, Stress Disorder, Post Traumatic

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06886841

Run by

Laurent Gaucher

People needed

4200

Starts

2025-03-17

Expected to finish

2026-06-01

Last updated by the study team

2025-03-20

Who can join

Age: 14 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

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

Where it is running

• Haute Ecole de Santé Genève — Geneva, Switzerland (enrolling)
• ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences — Winterthur, Switzerland (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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