Nabia Tariq1, Humera Naeem1, Ayesha Tariq2, Sajida Naseem3. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shifa College of Medicine, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan. 2. Department of Rehabilitation, Shifa International Hospitals Limited, Islamabad, Pakistan. 3. Department of Community and Family Medicine, Shifa College of Medicine, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the burden of antenatal and postpartum depression, and to explore possible predictors of perinatal depression. METHODS: The longitudinal study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shifa International Hospital and its Community Healthcare centre in Islamabad, Pakistan, from October 2018 to May 2019, and comprised women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Socioeconomic and obstetrical history was recorded on a proforma, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used for screening of depression. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. RESULTS: Of the 200 women, 71(35.5%) were primigravida and 129(64.5%) were multigravida. The overall mean age was 27.1±5.08 years. Further, 64(32%) women belonged to the low-income group, 99(49.5%) middle-income and 37(18.5%) to upper-income group. Women in postnatal period had higher depression scores than women in antenatal period (p<0.05). Antenatal depression increased the risk of postpartum depression (p<0.05). In women having unplanned pregnancies, or being multigravida, or belonging to middle and lower socioeconomic classes, the chances of perinatal depression were higher (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Antenatal depression was strongly associated with postpartum depression, indicating that the former was a significant predictor of the latter. Social class and parity were also found to be directly linked with perinatal depression.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the burden of antenatal and postpartum depression, and to explore possible predictors of perinatal depression. METHODS: The longitudinal study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shifa International Hospital and its Community Healthcare centre in Islamabad, Pakistan, from October 2018 to May 2019, and comprised women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Socioeconomic and obstetrical history was recorded on a proforma, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used for screening of depression. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. RESULTS: Of the 200 women, 71(35.5%) were primigravida and 129(64.5%) were multigravida. The overall mean age was 27.1±5.08 years. Further, 64(32%) women belonged to the low-income group, 99(49.5%) middle-income and 37(18.5%) to upper-income group. Women in postnatal period had higher depression scores than women in antenatal period (p<0.05). Antenatal depression increased the risk of postpartum depression (p<0.05). In women having unplanned pregnancies, or being multigravida, or belonging to middle and lower socioeconomic classes, the chances of perinatal depression were higher (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Antenatal depression was strongly associated with postpartum depression, indicating that the former was a significant predictor of the latter. Social class and parity were also found to be directly linked with perinatal depression.