Postpartum Depression among Saudi Women at National Guard Hospital and Alyamama Hospital in Riyadh in 2014-2015

Al-anazi, Wala; Al-amri, Esra; Al-hayan, Saja; Al-Bibi, Razan; Shammari, Hawa Al-; Al-Rushaydan, Munwah; Al-Munaysir, Reem; Al-Rumayh, Sarah; Al-Shehri, Waad Al-Shehria

Postpartum Depression among Saudi Women at National Guard Hospital and Alyamama Hospital in Riyadh in 2014-2015

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Al-Maarefa College for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Postpartum Depression (PPD) is defined briefly as a “complication of birth where its reasons are differing from a carrier mother to mother”. Symptoms of PPD resemble those of any other depression disorders but PPD is characterized by the time of occurrence and period than any other depression.
Objectives: This study aimed to estimate proportion of postpartum depression among Saudi women and identify the social and psychological factors that related to postpartum depression.
Methods: The study included 150 postnatal females, selected randomly in (2014 -2015). The data collected through structured questionnaires. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to screen for PPD. Result: This study found that there was a strong statistical association between PPD and anxiety regarding baby's expenses (38.2%), PPD and having still births or babies born with health issues (62.6%). Also, in having PPD in a previous pregnancy (53.4%). In addition those who were having a history of depression associated with PPD (47.2%). Lastly, anxiety regarding baby's responsibilities had a border line association with PPD (69.9%). Also, we found that there was a strong associations between PPD and not receiving support from family or friends during pregnancy (35%), or from husbands during pregnancy (43.9%), not having husbands beside them during labor (55.3%), and not having a good marriage relationship (36.6%).
Conclusion: PPD was associated with stillbirth, unhealthy baby, history of PPD depression, anxiety about baby's responsibility or expenses, lack of support from family or husband and bad marriage.

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