Risk Factors for Postpartum Depression During COVID-19

Abstract

Many social problems have been highlighted by COVID-19. The perinatal mental health of pregnant women is closely related to the newborn's health and the stability and harmony of family. However, there are few studies on postpartum depression in China. In this study, single-factor analysis and multivariate logistics regression analysis will be used to explore the high-risk factors of postpartum depression in COVID-19.From October 2020 to February 2021, the basic information of 388 puerperas from two cities in central and Northwest China, Xinxiang and Xi'an, were collected, including occupation, age, education, religious belief, nationality, partner companion time during pregnancy, major life-influenced events in the past six months, cognition of COVID-19, and gender and health of the newborn. Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was used for psychological evaluation. SPSS 13.0 was used for univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. According to the Edinburgh Depression Scale, 45 cases were classified into the depression group (score 13), and 343 cases were classified into the normal group (score < 13).The statistical results of general and clinical data showed that there was no significant correlation between occupation, nationality, weekly accompanying time, or age and postpartum depression (P > 0.05). In logistic multivariate regression analysis, the risk of postpartum depression in pregnant women with neonatal diseases was about 2.23 times higher than that of healthy pregnant women (OR = 2.233). When pregnant women believed that COVID-19 had a negative impact on the health of their newborns, their risk of postpartum depression was 3.31 times higher than that of perinatal women who did not(OR=3.314). This study explored the risk factors of postpartum depression in COVID-19, hoping to provide a method for prevention and treatment.