Health and well-being of mothers and co-parents during the first 12 months post partum: study protocol of the national SOCRATES cohort study in Switzerland

INTRODUCTION: The first year after childbirth is a critical yet insufficiently monitored period for parental health. Postpartum mental and physical morbidity can affect both mothers and co-parents, but national longitudinal data remain scarce. The Stress Of Co-parents Related to A Traumatic Experience of birth across Switzerland (SOCRATES) cohort study aims to describe maternal and co-parental health and well-being trajectories during the first year after childbirth. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: weeks' gestation and ≥500 g) and their cohabiting co-parents, provided they speak German, French, Italian or English. Recruitment was conducted in 81 of the 112 Swiss maternity units, birth centres and organisations of midwives over 6 weeks in spring 2025. Clinical data on pregnancy, childbirth and the early postpartum period are extracted from medical records. Postpartum hospitalisation data are obtained through linkage with national medico-administrative databases. Participants complete online questionnaires shortly after birth and at 2, 6 and 12 months post partum, including sociodemographic characteristics and patient-reported outcomes. The primary outcome is the prevalence of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder at 2 months, assessed using the City Birth Trauma Scale. Secondary outcomes include depression, physical recovery, sexual health, quality of life, healthcare use, perceived care quality and overall well-being. A weighting procedure will be used to ensure representativeness and to account for attrition. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was granted by all seven Swiss ethics committees (number 2024-02262). All participants provided informed consent. Findings will be disseminated through national and international conferences, peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, social media and stakeholder engagement activities. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT06886841.