RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

Abstract

Postpartum Depression (PPD) begins to be reported in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the gravidic-puerperal period some events occur such as physiological, psychological and psychosocial changes. The main risk factors for the onset of PPD include: extreme anxiety; stressful events; previous history of depression; lack of family support; unwanted or planned pregnancy; relationship with partner; low socioeconomic status; dependence on alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs; and history of domestic violence. The diagnosis is made by health professionals and through the use of two symptom tracking instruments which are the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition (DSM 5). This work aimed to identify and know the risk factors associated with Postpartum Depression, as well as discuss prevention and methods for early diagnosis. This is an integrative literature review study. Articles indexed in the databases Virtual Health Library (VHL), Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo) and Pubmed were used, using the descriptors (DESC) Postpartum Depression or Puerperium, Postpartum Depression or Risk Factors and Postpartum Depression or Nursing Care. From the searches in the cited databases, 81,226 articles were found, which were submitted to the inclusion and exclusion criteria established in this work. After applying the filters, inclusion and exclusion criteria, duplicity, reading the full abstracts, 15 articles were chosen to answer the research question. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with PPD. The articles of this review point out that its development occurs through some determinants that arise during pregnancy and postpartum. The risk factors cited by the researches that favor the emergence of PPD include: stressful events during pregnancy, previous history of depression, age, level of education, number of children, marital status, family income. For this, it is important that the health team is in constant training in order to promote health and prevention. With this, it will be possible to observe the decrease in maternal morbidity and mortality rates, infanticides, minimizing complications for puerperae, less damage to the development of babies, as well as maintaining the integrity of the effective mother-child bond, without interfering in the relationship with partners and family members.