Prevalence of Postpartum Depression among Recently Delivering Mothers in Nablus District and Its Associated Factors
نوع المنشور
ورقة مؤتمر
المؤلفون

Prevalence of Postpartum Depression among Recently Delivering Mothers in Nablus District and Its Associated Factors

 Amira Shaheen(1), Khubaib Ayoub(2), Shakoor Hajat(3)

 

Background:

The American Psychiatric Association defines postpartum depression (PPD) as; “occurrence of a major depressive episode (MDE) within four weeks after delivery.” Postpartum depression is one of the major underestimated public health problems in the maternal and mental health.  It affects 13% of mothers worldwide within the first year after birth representing a relatively high prevalence especially in critical time in the life of both babies and their mothers.  This study aims at investigating the prevalence and associated potential risk factors of postpartum depression among mothers aged 18-45 years in Nablus district at 2 months after birth.

 

Methods:

A convenient sample of 245 mothers attending mother and child health clinics in Nablus district in 2013 to vaccinate their children at 7-12 weeks after birth was chosen.  Screening for PPD was made using the Arabic version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.  The cut off score 9/10 (≥ 10) was used to define depressed mothers and 12/13 (≥13) to define severe depression. Others questions related to risk factors were asked.  Ethical approval was obtained and informed consents were gained from participants.

 

Results:

Forty mothers (17%) were depressed and scored ≥ 10 on EPDS.  Further classification of the depressed mothers showed that 19 mothers (8.1%) were moderately depressed and scored 10-12 on EPDS.  Whilst 21 mothers (8.9%) were severely depressed and score ≥ 13.

No significant associations were indicated between socio-demographic variables, age, residence, education, occupation, total family income, and income to family member ration, with the occurrence of PPD.

None of the pregnancy complications; gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, gestational bleeding, threatened abortion, vomiting and dizziness, and anemia, were found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of PPD, regardless of its frequencies.   Similar results were obtained to pregnancy and birth related variables.

Of the newborn related variables, only prematurity was found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of PPD OR=0.23 [95%CI:0.05-1:00, p-value=0.035].  Personal mental history, and depression during pregnancy were found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of PPD with OR=15.72 [95%CI:1.59-155, P-value=0.016] and OR=20.54 [95%CI:8.84-47.74, P-value<0.0001].

Of the other factors that were found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of PPD; exposure to 2 or more stressful events during pregnancy OR=7.8 [95%CI:2.21-27.53, P-value <0.0001], poor satisfaction with the marital relationship OR=11.9 [95%CI: 3.39-41.97, P-value <0.0001], husband’s help and support OR=6.3 [95% CI: 3.03-13.2, P-value < 0.0001], bad relationship with mother in law OR=2.6 [95%CI: 1.03-6.57, P-value=0.037], and perceived low social support OR=13.7 [95% CI: 3.50-53.96, P-value <0.0001].

 

Conclusion

Prevalence of PPD is high among Palestinian mothers and is mainly associated with psychosocial stressors during pregnancy. Although further research is needed in this area due to small sample size and non-random approach, we highly recommend the integration of PPD screening into the antenatal and postnatal healthcare services and to give more time to mothers counselling in addition to the medical services offered.

 

 

 (1) An-Najah National University, Department of Public Health, Nablus, Occupied Palestinian Territory. (2) An-Najah National University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Nablus, Occupied Palestinian Territory. (3) London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London,UK

Funding: Not applicable
Conflict of interest: Declare no conflict of interest
* Corresponding author: Amira Shaheen, PhD
Assistant Professor of Child Health, Epidemiology, and Environmental Health. Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine; [email protected]. Mobile: +972 52 383 3685

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المؤتمر
عنوان المؤتمر
ITM 2015 annual colloquium on maternal and neonatal health
دولة المؤتمر
المغرب
تاريخ المؤتمر
24 نوفمبر، 2015 - 27 نوفمبر، 2015
راعي المؤتمر
The Ministry of Health and Moroccan National School of Public Health