Abstract
BackgroundIn Syria, there are no previous studies on postpartum depression. The aim of this study is was identify the prevalence of postpartum depression and investigate its risk factors among Syrian women seen at the Primary Health Care Centres in Damascus.MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out between January and December 2017 in Damascus, Syria. Postpartum women seen at a convenience sample of the largest and well-utilized primary health care centres in Damascus were invited to participate in the study. The Arabic version of the validated Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale questionnaire was used to measure postpartum depression. A cut-off score of 13 was considered to indicate probable depression.ResultsOut of a total of 1105 women participated in this study, 28.2% had a score of 13 (probable Depression). The multivariate analysis showed that postpartum depression was significantly associated with a reported a health problem during last pregnancy (OR = 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4–3.5); displacement (OR = 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–1.97); perceived exposure to a lot of life stressors (OR = 5.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.4–10.5); while antenatal care had a protective effect (OR = 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36–0.75).ConclusionsThe prevalence of postpartum depression among Syrian women in this study was relatively high, as compared to other Arab and Non-Arab countries. Displacement due to the Syrian crisis among other factors was associated with postpartum depression. Obstetricians and other professionals should be sensitized about the importance of screening for the problem for better management.
Highlights
In Syria, there are no previous studies on postpartum depression
Common Perinatal Mental Disorders (CPMDs) are more prevalent in low- and lower-middleincome countries; i.e. 15.6% of women in low and lowermiddle-income countries experienced a mental disorder during pregnancy and 19.8% experienced a mental disorder after childbirth [1, 2]
Postpartum depression (PPD); a non-psychotic depressive disorder classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as an Episode of Major Depressive Disorder that begins within 4 weeks of childbirth [3], is a major disabling mood disorder that affects women during childbearing years
Summary
The aim of this study is was identify the prevalence of postpartum depression and investigate its risk factors among Syrian women seen at the Primary Health Care Centres in Damascus. Postpartum depression (PPD); a non-psychotic depressive disorder classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as an Episode of Major Depressive Disorder that begins within 4 weeks of childbirth [3], is a major disabling mood disorder that affects women during childbearing years. A recent Cochrane review indicated that psychosocial and psychological interventions, Roumieh et al BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (2019) 19:519 delivered by well-trained non-specialist health care providers, including the provision of intensive, professionallybased postpartum home visits, telephone-based peer support, and interpersonal psychotherapy significantly reduce the number of women who develop PPD [6]
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