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.
Denmark
Principal Investigators
Sille Schandorph Løkkegaard
Collaborators
Institutions
University of Southern Denmark
Contribution to Dataset
Version 3 (2028)
Estonia
Principal Investigators
Prof Kristiina Uriko
Collaborators
None
Institutions
Tallinn University, Estonia
Contribution to Dataset
Version 1 (2023)
Fiji
Principal Investigators
Prof Clare Harvey & Akisi Ravono
Collaborators
None
Institutions
Fiji Nursing Association
Contribution to Dataset
Version 2 (2026)
France
Principal Investigators
Prof Gisèle Apter & Prof Emmanuel Devouche
Collaborators
Lisa Vitte & Jessica Letot
Institutions
Hospital Group Du Havre, University Rouen Normandy & LPPS Université Paris Cité
Contribution to Dataset
Version 2 (2026)
Germany
Principal Investigators
Prof Susan Garthus-Niegel & Dr Julia Schellong
Collaborators
Lara Seefeld, Amera Mojahed
Institutions
TUD Dresden University of Technology
Contribution to Dataset
Version 1 (2023)
Ghana
Principal Investigators
Dr Buruwaa Adomaku Agyekum & Dr. Sheriffa Mahama
Collaborators
Dr Pamela Selormey, Dr David Kumador, Prof. Oti-Boadi, Dr Dorcas Ofosu-Budu, Prof. Esther Malm
Institutions
University of Ghana, Ghana
Contribution to Dataset
Version 2 (2026)
Greece
Principal Investigators
Olga Gouni
Collaborators
Eleni Vousoura
Institutions
Prenatal Sciences Research Institute ‘SOPHIA’, Greece
Contribution to Dataset
Version 2 (2026)
Iceland
Principal Investigators
Dr Valgerður Lísa Sigurðardóttir & Dr. Emma Marie Swift
Collaborators
Hallfríður Kristín Jónsdóttir, Linda Bára Lýðsdóttir & Stefanía Birna Arnardóttir
Institutions
University of Iceland, Reykjavik University, National University Hospital, Primary Health Care of the Capital Area
Contribution to Dataset
Version 1 (2023)
India
Principal Investigators
Prof Geetha Desai & Prof Prabha Chandra
Collaborators
None
Institutions
NIMHANS, Bangalore, India
Contribution to Dataset
Version 2 (2026)
Ireland
Principal Investigators
Prof Joan Lalor
Collaborators
Ursula Nagle
Institutions
Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Contribution to Dataset
Version 1 (2023)
Israel
Principal Investigators
Prof Jonathan Handelzalts
Collaborators
Yoav Peled
Institutions
Academic College of Tel Aviv, The Helen Schneider Hospital for Women
Contribution to Dataset
Version 1 (2023)
Italy
Principal Investigators
Prof Chiara Ionio
Collaborators
Giulia Ciuffo
Institutions
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Catholic University of Milan
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