Analysis of the incidence and influencing factors of postpartum depression and anxiety: A cross-sectional study in Xinjiang from 2018 to 2021

Abstract

BackgroundPostpartum depression(PPD) and anxiety(PPA) have become the one of major public health threats. However, the research evidence on PPD and PPA in Xinjiang is insufficient. This research reports the incidence of PPD and PPA in the past 4 years, and analyzes the impact of sociodemographic and obstetric factors on postpartum mental health. MethodsThe selected research objects are parturients who have undergone postpartum health check-ups in a tertiary hospital in Urumqi from January 2018 to September 2021. The study obtained the socio-demographic and obstetric information of the puerpera through general survey questionnaires, and used the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales to screen for PPD and PPA. Furthermore, after univariate analysis of related influencing factors of PPD and PPA, multiple binary logistic regression analysis was used to further explore the relationship between PPD and PPA and various influencing factors. ResultsA total of 7,703 parturients were included in this study. The incidence of PPD (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) was 9.7% in 2018, 11.1% in 2019, 13.3% in 2020, and 14.2% in 2021 (χ2 = 18.386, P < 0001). The incidence of PPA(GAD-7 ≥ 10) was 8.1% in 2018,8.6% in 2019, 11.4% in 2020, and 9.8% in 2021 (χ2 = 16.895, P = 0.001). The six factors that were statistically different after univariate analysis were included in the multivariate binary logistic regression analysis. The final results suggested that women who delivery in 2020 were 1.405 times (95%CI:1.145–1.723) more likely to suffer from depression than those who delivery in 2018 and 1.688 times (95%CI:1.237–2.303) than that in 2021. Compared with puerpera with formal jobs, the incidence of PPD among puerpera who were self-employed (AOR = 1.372,95%CI:1.085–1.735) or unemployed(AOR = 1.348,95%CI:1.137–1.599) was on the rise. Moreover, studies have shown that mixed feeding (AOR = 1.515,95%CI: 1.296–1.772) or artificial feeding (AOR = 1.736,95%CI: 1.299–2.321) 6 weeks postpartum was associated with a higher risk of depression, and puerpera who delivered female infants (AOR = 0.780, 95%CI: 0.626–0.971) were less likely to report depressive symptoms. Simultaneously, for PPA, women who delivered in 2020 were 1.418 times (95%CI: 1.065–1.887) more likely to suffer from anxiety than those who delivered in 2018. Women aged 18–29 years (AOR = 2.070,95%CI:1.229–3.487) were more likely to report PPA than those over the age of 29. Similarly, women who selected cesarean section delivery (AOR = 1.332,95%CI:1.087–1.632) were more likely to have PPA. Mixed feeding (AOR = 1.436,95%CI: (1.193–1.729) ) or artificial feeding (AOR = 1.742,95%CI: 1.243–2.441) at 6 weeks postpartum was associated with a higher risk of anxiety. While puerpera who delivered female infants (AOR = 0.746,95%CI: 0.567–0.982) were less likely to report anxiety symptoms. ConclusionThis study shows that in Xinjiang, the incidence of postpartum depression and anxiety was on the rise from 2018 to 2020, and although there was a slight decline in 2021, it was still higher than in 2019. Simultaneously, the proportion of overweight or obese, cesarean section, and non-breastfeeding women had increased year by year. Factors such as maternal age, occupation, mode of delivery, feeding pattern and neonatal gender may help to identify high-risk patients. Therefore, primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention should be given priority to reduce the incidence of postpartum depression and anxiety in high-risk groups.