Women's Reproductive Choices and Mental Health During Pregnancy and After Birth in Wartime Ukraine

Integrative Model of Factors Influencing Reproductive Behavior and Perinatal Mental Health of Women Amidst War

The goal of this observational study is to learn how war affects reproductive decisions and perinatal mental health in Ukrainian women.

The main questions it aims to answer are: (1) how are wartime stress and trauma related to women's decisions about pregnancy and childbirth?; (2) what mental health symptoms and psychological difficulties are experienced during the perinatal period under wartime conditions? (3) which demographic, obstetric, and psychological factors are linked to poorer mental health and childbirth experiences?

Researchers will survey at least 300 women.

Participants will: (1) complete questionnaires about their mental health and psychological well-being; (2) answer questions about their reproductive choices, pregnancy, and/or childbirth experiences; (3) report on the impact of war, social support, maternal care, and postpartum trauma; (4) provide demographic and obstetric information.

The findings will be used to develop an evidence-based model of the factors influencing reproductive behavior and perinatal mental health during war.

Inclusion Criteria:

• able and willing to provide informed consent;
• aged 18 years or older.

Exclusion Criteria:

• younger than 18 years;
• unable to provide informed consent;
• do not have sufficient language proficiency to complete the study procedures;
• at the time of recruitment, they have an acute medical or psychological condition that would make participation unsafe, inappropriate, or unduly burdensome (e.g., obstetric emergencies, immediate postoperative or critical care status, or severe acute distress requiring urgent clinical care);
• participation or the handling of personal data could reasonably pose a risk to the safety of the participant or their family.