International Partners
The INTERSECT study partnership includes collaborators from over 50 countries. Principal investigators in each country are responsible for conducting the INTERSECT survey in their own country. Anonymised data from each country are then linked to create an international databank of information on traumatic birth and PTSD worldwide. The first dataset was released in 2024 and has data from 31 countries and 11,302 women. It is available on application through the UK Data Service. A second release of the dataset with more countries is planned for 2026. If you are interested in conducting INTERSECT in your country please email intersect@city.ac.uk.
The study will provide information on the cross-cultural prevalence of postpartum PTSD, as well as differences in the etiology and manifestation of childbirth-related PTSD worldwide.
Albania
Principal Investigators
Dr Ana Uka
Collaborators
Dr Ana Sula, Dr. Sonila Kapaj, Zejnep Lleshanaku, Dorina Ahmetaj
Institutions
Western Balkans University in Albania, American Hospitals Group
Contribution to Dataset
Version 2 (2026)
Australia
Principal Investigators
Prof Julie Jomeen & Prof Kathleen Baird
Collaborators
Elaine Jefford, Annette Briley, Julia Caldwell, Annabel Sheehy, Deborah Fox, James Elhindi, Shannon Everest, Beata Gidaszewski, Julia Marsden, Dharmintra Pasupathy, Valerie Slavin, Rachael Woodworth
Institutions
University of Queensland, University of Technology, University of Sydney, Southern Cross University, University of Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast University
Contribution to Dataset
Version 1 (2023)
Belgium
Principal Investigators
Annick Bogaerts
Collaborators
Femke Geusens, Kate Maslin
Institutions
KU Leuven
Contribution to Dataset
Version 2 (2026)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Principal Investigators
Dragana Kovačić Jošić
Collaborators
Jelena Mihić Salapura
Institutions
EKO EHO - Center for Education and Promotion of a Healthy Life
Contribution to Dataset
Version 2 (2026)
Botswana
Principal Investigators
Keitumetse Medupe & Portia Keatametse
Collaborators
None
Institutions
University of Botswana, Botswana
Contribution to Dataset
Version 2 (2026)
Brazil
Principal Investigators
Prof Flavia Osorio
Collaborators
Prof Mariza Theme-Filha, Dr Marcia Baldiserotto & Dr Daniela Levandowski
Institutions
Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, University of Sao Paulo
Contribution to Dataset
Version 1 (2023)
Canada
Principal Investigators
Shayna Pierce
Collaborators
Institutions
University of Manitoba
Contribution to Dataset
Version 2 (2026)
Chile
Principal Investigators
Natalia Awad Sirhan & Soledad Coo
Collaborators
Antonia Letnic, Agostina Rinon
Institutions
Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile
Contribution to Dataset
Version 1 (2023)
China
Principal Investigators
Dr. Ling Chen
Collaborators
Ms. Zhijuan Yang
Institutions
Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University & The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University
Contribution to Dataset
Version 2 (2026)
Croatia
Principal Investigators
Prof Sandra Nakić Radoš
Collaborators
Maja Brekalo, Maja Žutić, Marijana Matijaš
Institutions
Catholic University of Croatia
Contribution to Dataset
Version 1 (2023)
Cyprus
Principal Investigators
Prof Eleni Hadjigeorgiou & Dr Andri Christoforou
Collaborators
None
Institutions
Cyprus University of Technology, European University Cyprus
Contribution to Dataset
Version 1 (2023)
Czechia
Principal Investigators
Petra Dörr & Dr Bohdana Dušová
Collaborators
Lucie Sikorová
Institutions
University of Ostrava, Faculty Hospital Ostrava
Contribution to Dataset
Version 1 (2023)
Supporting Organisations
"[Having] an international data bank that could be accessed by researchers worldwide would provide an enormously valuable resource… Such a databank would enable health systems to improve maternity care in ways that could reduce the elements that women find traumatic.” Birth Trauma Association