Do social determinants of health affect postpartum depression?

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of postpartum depression and the risk factors that may play role in arising of it, at 16 family health centers in Kars. Methods: 409 women from 4 medical centre (total 16 family health centers) in central Kars were taken to the study, who aplied to their family health centers between the dates of 27.03.2015- 24.12.2015 and had 0-12 month-old babies, and accepted to participate in the study. 2 questionnaires was used for the resarch; the first questionnaire was to determine the mothers’ and their families’ sociodemografic, socioeconomic, biodemografic features, health status, and health service usage, and the second was Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPPDS). The cut-off point was taken 12 for EPPDS. Results: The incidence of PPD has been found to be 24.9% in this study. In binary analyses, maternal age, level of education, place of residence, form of marriage, father’s job, mother’s working status, home’s income level, number of living children, delivery place, history of psychiatric disease in women are found statistically significant for PPD; in logistic regretion analysis, place of residence, form of marriage, mother’s job, home’s income level and history of psychiatric disease are determined as risk factors for PPD. Conclusion: It has been concluded to be essential that it must be increased the awareness of primary health care providers about determined risk factors, ensured the actively usage of postpartum care management guide, increased the health literacy about PPD of health care users, ensured the cooperation between sectors for multisectoral approach, and made studies to represent the city.