BACKGROUND: To investigate the prevalence, socio-cultural and psychosocial risk factors for perinatal depression in Singaporean women. METHOD: A prospective cohort of 559 women was interviewed antenatally and at six weeks' postpartum at a tertiary hospital. Women were interviewed for diagnosis of depression using a two-stage design, with a screening questionnaire and diagnostic interview. RESULTS: Postnatally, a negative confinement experience was associated with depression. Other independent factors included poor emotional support, a past history of depression, unplanned pregnancy and perceived potential conflicts with relatives over childcare antenatally and dissatisfaction, poor instrumental support postnatally. The prevalence of depression antenatally and postnatally was 12.2% and 6.8%, respectively. LIMITATIONS: Measures of satisfaction with social support were based on self-report; there were high dropout rates at six weeks' postpartum; and other modulating social factors such as pre-existing interpersonal conflicts were not studied. CONCLUSIONS: Perinatal depression in Singaporean women is common. Contrary to expectations, a negative 'confinement' experience is a significant risk factor for postnatal depression, and is not universally welcomed by women. Depression is modulated by dissimilar sets of psychosocial factors antenatally and postnatally.
BACKGROUND: To investigate the prevalence, socio-cultural and psychosocial risk factors for perinatal depression in Singaporean women. METHOD: A prospective cohort of 559 women was interviewed antenatally and at six weeks' postpartum at a tertiary hospital. Women were interviewed for diagnosis of depression using a two-stage design, with a screening questionnaire and diagnostic interview. RESULTS: Postnatally, a negative confinement experience was associated with depression. Other independent factors included poor emotional support, a past history of depression, unplanned pregnancy and perceived potential conflicts with relatives over childcare antenatally and dissatisfaction, poor instrumental support postnatally. The prevalence of depression antenatally and postnatally was 12.2% and 6.8%, respectively. LIMITATIONS: Measures of satisfaction with social support were based on self-report; there were high dropout rates at six weeks' postpartum; and other modulating social factors such as pre-existing interpersonal conflicts were not studied. CONCLUSIONS: Perinatal depression in Singaporean women is common. Contrary to expectations, a negative 'confinement' experience is a significant risk factor for postnatal depression, and is not universally welcomed by women. Depression is modulated by dissimilar sets of psychosocial factors antenatally and postnatally.
Authors: Charlotte Hanlon; Girmay Medhin; Atalay Alem; Mesfin Araya; Abdulreshid Abdulahi; Mark Tomlinson; Marcus Hughes; Vikram Patel; Michael Dewey; Martin Prince Journal: Br J Psychiatry Date: 2010-12 Impact factor: 9.319
Authors: Ene-Choo Tan; Tze-Ern Chua; Theresa M Y Lee; Hui-San Tan; Joe L Y Ting; Helen Y Chen Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2015-10-30 Impact factor: 3.007
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