Levels of depression in pregnant women attending the Ticul community hospital, Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract

Objective. To describe levels of depression in pregnant women treated at the Ticul community hospital, Yucatan, Mexico. Methodology. Cross-sectional design. The participants were pregnant women who attended their prenatal check-ups at the community hospital in Ticul, Yucatán, Mexico, to whom the Aron T. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) was applied. Results. 121 pregnant women participated. The age range was from 16 to 42 years old. 81.5% of pregnant women were in the third trimester of pregnancy. 85% presented levels of depression with ups and downs considered normal, 5% mild disturbance in mood, 10% presented levels of depression located between intermittent states of depression, moderate depression and severe depression which are indicators that it can need professional help. Contribution. This study contributes with results that show that levels of depression occur during pregnancy that may require professional support as preventive measures for serious complications.