Influencing Factors of Postpartum Depression between 4 to 6 Weeks after Childbirth in the Postpartum Women

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influencing factors of postpartum depression among parturient women between 4 to 6 weeks after childbirth. Methods: The participants were 146 healthy postpartum women who delivered at three women's health hospitals in Chungnam province in 2008. Data were collected by a self-report questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed by using the SPSS WIN 14.0 program. Results: There was a significant difference in postpartum depression depending on the educational level. Postpartum depression was significantly correlated with childcare stress, social support, infant fussiness, Sanhujori satisfaction, subjective health condition, and sleep satisfaction. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that postpartum depression was significantly predicted by childcare stress, Sanhujori satisfaction and subjective health condition. These variables explained 49.0% of the variance of postpartum depression. Conclusion: It is concluded that a nursing intervention for postpartum depression should focus on decreasing childcare stress and improving Sanhujori satisfaction. further studies are required to verily and substantiate the effect of the developed nursing intervention programs.