Authors : Azimi-Lolaty Hamideh , Danesh Mahmonir , Hosaini Syed Hamze , Khalililian Alireza and Zarghami Mehran
Abstract: Prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression among pregnant women referred to Mother-Child Health care (MCH) clinics Women are more vulnerable to psychiatric illness during the postnatal period. To study the prevalence rate of Postpartum Depression (PD) and related factors. A consecutive series of 422 pregnant was included from 10 antenatal health care centers from February 2001 to August, 2002 and the samples were further follow-up at 6-8 weeks after childbirth with Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), Short form scale of Spielberger`s State Anxiety Inventory and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). The prevalence rate of PD was 22% (n = 93) by EPDS. Depression, anxiety and psychiatric morbidity were 30.1% (n = 127 ), 12.6% (n = 42) and 31.1% (n = 132) at antenatal and 9.4% (n = 31), 37.2% (n = 157) at postpartum, respectively. Significant differences were found on relating postpartum depression to antenatal depression, ante and postpartum anxiety, ante and postpartum psychiatric morbidity (p< 0.001). Family support, life stressful events, (health, gestational age) of baby, perceived ability care of the baby were significantly different in mothers who were depress at postpartum. Although the mean of scores postpartum depression were different and high with vaginal delivery, unwanted pregnancy, non-occupation and low educational level mother�s, history of infertility, past psychiatric history, number of children under 12 years, were not significant. The main factors related to predictors of PD are anxiety, depression and psychiatric morbidity during pregnancy. Our result confirms other studies that were done in Iran and revealed depression, anxiety and psychiatric morbidity in pregnant women is high and drop at postpartum period.
Azimi-Lolaty Hamideh , Danesh Mahmonir , Hosaini Syed Hamze , Khalililian Alireza and Zarghami Mehran , 2007. Prevalence and Predictors of Postpartum Depression among Pregnant Women Referred to Mother-Child Health Care (MCH) Clinics . Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 2: 285-290.