Research Article

Association of Antenatal Education Attendance with Early Postpartum Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Scores: A Retrospective Observational Study

Volume: 23 Number: 2 July 11, 2026
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Association of Antenatal Education Attendance with Early Postpartum Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Scores: A Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between attendance at an institutional antenatal education program and early postpartum depressive symptom burden assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Methods: This retrospective study included women who completed antenatal follow-up and delivery. Women who attended at least one theoretical antenatal education session were included in the antenatal education group. EPDS was recorded within the first 24 hours postpartum as part of routine assessment. High EPDS risk was defined as EPDS ≥13. Results: The cohort included 170 women, with 85 women in each group. Median EPDS score was lower in the antenatal education group than in the control group (7 vs 14 , p<0.001). High EPDS risk was recorded in 12 women (14.1%) in the antenatal education group and 70 women (82.4%) in the control group (p<0.001). Vaginal delivery was more frequent among women who attended antenatal education (68.2% vs 45.9%, p=0.003). After adjustment, antenatal education attendance remained independently associated with lower odds of high EPDS risk (adjusted OR, 0.034; 95% CI, 0.013-0.090; p<0.001) and a lower continuous EPDS score (adjusted β, -6.654; 95% CI, -7.644 to -5.664; p<0.001). Conclusion: Antenatal education attendance was associated with lower early postpartum EPDS scores, lower high EPDS risk, and a higher vaginal delivery rate. Because EPDS was assessed within the first 24 hours postpartum and the study was non-randomized, the findings should be interpreted as an association with early postpartum depressive symptom burden rather than as proof of a causal preventive effect on clinically diagnosed postpartum depression.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee (approval no: AEŞH-BADEK2-2026-372; approval date: May 5, 2026).

References

  1. Referanslar

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 11, 2026

Submission Date

June 10, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 1, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 23 Number: 2

APA
Seyhan, B., Başbuğa, H. M., Açıkgöz, H. A., Özalp, E., & Soysal, Ç. (2026). Association of Antenatal Education Attendance with Early Postpartum Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Scores: A Retrospective Observational Study. Jinekoloji-Obstetrik Ve Neonatoloji Tıp Dergisi, 23(2), 174-181. https://doi.org/10.38136/jgon.1968389
AMA
1.Seyhan B, Başbuğa HM, Açıkgöz HA, Özalp E, Soysal Ç. Association of Antenatal Education Attendance with Early Postpartum Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Scores: A Retrospective Observational Study. Jinekoloji-Obstetrik ve Neonatoloji Tıp Dergisi. 2026;23(2):174-181. doi:10.38136/jgon.1968389
Chicago
Seyhan, Berna, Hasan Mert Başbuğa, Hamza Arda Açıkgöz, Emel Özalp, and Çağanay Soysal. 2026. “Association of Antenatal Education Attendance With Early Postpartum Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Scores: A Retrospective Observational Study”. Jinekoloji-Obstetrik Ve Neonatoloji Tıp Dergisi 23 (2): 174-81. https://doi.org/10.38136/jgon.1968389.
EndNote
Seyhan B, Başbuğa HM, Açıkgöz HA, Özalp E, Soysal Ç (July 1, 2026) Association of Antenatal Education Attendance with Early Postpartum Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Scores: A Retrospective Observational Study. Jinekoloji-Obstetrik ve Neonatoloji Tıp Dergisi 23 2 174–181.
IEEE
[1]B. Seyhan, H. M. Başbuğa, H. A. Açıkgöz, E. Özalp, and Ç. Soysal, “Association of Antenatal Education Attendance with Early Postpartum Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Scores: A Retrospective Observational Study”, Jinekoloji-Obstetrik ve Neonatoloji Tıp Dergisi, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 174–181, July 2026, doi: 10.38136/jgon.1968389.
ISNAD
Seyhan, Berna - Başbuğa, Hasan Mert - Açıkgöz, Hamza Arda - Özalp, Emel - Soysal, Çağanay. “Association of Antenatal Education Attendance With Early Postpartum Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Scores: A Retrospective Observational Study”. Jinekoloji-Obstetrik ve Neonatoloji Tıp Dergisi 23/2 (July 1, 2026): 174-181. https://doi.org/10.38136/jgon.1968389.
JAMA
1.Seyhan B, Başbuğa HM, Açıkgöz HA, Özalp E, Soysal Ç. Association of Antenatal Education Attendance with Early Postpartum Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Scores: A Retrospective Observational Study. Jinekoloji-Obstetrik ve Neonatoloji Tıp Dergisi. 2026;23:174–181.
MLA
Seyhan, Berna, et al. “Association of Antenatal Education Attendance With Early Postpartum Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Scores: A Retrospective Observational Study”. Jinekoloji-Obstetrik Ve Neonatoloji Tıp Dergisi, vol. 23, no. 2, July 2026, pp. 174-81, doi:10.38136/jgon.1968389.
Vancouver
1.Berna Seyhan, Hasan Mert Başbuğa, Hamza Arda Açıkgöz, Emel Özalp, Çağanay Soysal. Association of Antenatal Education Attendance with Early Postpartum Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Scores: A Retrospective Observational Study. Jinekoloji-Obstetrik ve Neonatoloji Tıp Dergisi. 2026 Jul. 1;23(2):174-81. doi:10.38136/jgon.1968389