Abstract
Abstract Objectives: to analyze associations among violence against pregnant women, depressive symptoms during pregnancy and maternal depression symptoms. Methods: a sample of 1,139 mothers was conducted on a prenatal cohort study in the municipality of São Luís in Brazil. Psychological and physical violence against pregnant women were measured by the World Health Organization Violence Against Woman. Depressive symptoms during pregnancy were measured by the Escala de Depressão do Centro de Estudos Epidemiológicos (CES-D) (Depression Scale for Epidemiological Studies Center) and maternal depression symptoms were measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The conceptual model of the structural equation modeling contained socioeconomic situation, social support, psychological and physical violence and depression during pregnancy as determinants of the maternal depression symptoms. Results: maternal depression symptoms were more frequently reported by pregnant women who suffered psychological violence (Standardized Coefficient, SC=0.256; p-value, p<0.001), physical violence (SC=0.221 p<0.001) and those who presented depressive symptoms during pregnancy SC=0.322, p<0.001). Depressive symptoms during pregnancy mediated the effects on physical and psychological violence on maternal depression. Conclusions: pregnant women who were submitted to psychological and physical violence and presented depressive symptoms during pregnancy frequently reported more of having maternal depression symptoms.
Highlights
Depression is the most common mental disorder during pregnancy and the main risk factor for perinatal depression
In order to respond this question, the present study proposed a conceptual model using structural equation modeling in order to analyze the influence of physical and psychological violence against pregnant women and depressive symptoms during pregnancy on postpartum depression symptoms (Figure 1)
The study of the prenatal São Luis BRISA cohort revealed that pregnant women submitted to psychological and physical violence reported depressive symptoms during pregnancy frequently reported more postpartum depression symptoms
Summary
Depression is the most common mental disorder during pregnancy and the main risk factor for perinatal depression. 10% of the pregnant women and 13% of the women during the first year of postpartum experience some type of mental disorder, especially depression and anxiety in high income countries.[2] A meta-analysis systematic review showed a 5.9% rate of mental disorders during pregnancy and a 19.8% rate in the immediate postpartum period in middle and low income countries, but when the symptoms were self-reported, the percentages were lower (13.4%) compared to the diagnostic evaluation (21.7%). Violence against pregnant women can affect their physical and mental health, social and working life, as well as their ability to take care of themselves and their children.[3] A meta-analysis systematic review of 67 publications, 12 of which were longitudinal studies showed that violence during pregnancy is associated to higher scores for depressive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum period.[4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
