Postpartum Depression in Women Gave Birth in the Shadow of the Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the level of postpartum depression and related factors in women who gave birth during the COVID-19 epidemic. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study was carried out between January and April 2021 with 351 participants. Data collection instruments included an information form, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS), and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Results: The average age of the participants was 28.37±6.74. The number of pregnancies was 2.68±1.48. Primary school graduates were 47.3%, and 92% were not working. 7% of the participants had an EPDS cut-off score of 10 or above. A difference was found between the groups in terms of education level, smoking, COVID-19 experience relative to COVID-19 status and CAS and OCS score average (p<0.05). Additionally, there was a difference between the groups' employment status, spouse's employment status, income status, smoking, unplanned pregnancy, type of birth and the baby's need for intensive care, and the average EPDS score (p<0.05). Conclusions: Those with a high level of education, smokers, and those whose close relatives have had COVID-19 may be at risk for COVID-19 anxiety and obsession. Starting in pregnancy, anxiety and depressive symptoms should be reduced in at-risk groups.

Keywords

• Anxiety
• COVID-19
• obsessive behavior
• pandemics
• postpartum depression

Pandemi Gölgesinde Doğum Yapan Kadınlarda Postpartum Depresyon

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma, COVID-19 pandemisinde doğum yapan gebelerin postpartum depresyonla ilişkili faktörlerini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamıştır. Materyal ve Metot: Tanımlayıcı kesitsel tipte olan bu çalışma, Ocak ve Nisan 2021 tarihleri arasında 351 katılımcı ile gerçekleştirildi. Veri toplama araçları olarak Bilgi Formu, Koronavirüs Anksiyete Ölçeği (CAS), COVID-19 Takıntısı Ölçeği (OCS) ve Edinburgh Postnatal Depresyon Ölçeği (EPDS) kullanıldı. Bulgular: Katılımcıların yaş ortalaması 28,37±6,74 idi. Gebelik sayısı 2,68±1,48 idi. İlkokul mezunlarının oranı %47,3 olup, %92'si çalışmıyordu. Katılımcıların %7'sinin EPDS kesme puanı 10 ve üzerindeydi. Gruplar arasında eğitim düzeyi, sigara kullanımı, COVİD-19 deneyimine göre COVİD-19 durumu ve CAS ve OCS puan ortalamaları açısından farklılık bulundu (p<0,05). Ayrıca grupların çalışma durumu, eşin çalışma durumu, gelir durumu, sigara içme, planlanmamış gebelik, doğum şekli ve bebeğin yoğun bakıma ihtiyaç duyma durumu ve ortalama EPDS puanı arasında da farklılık vardı (p<0,05). Sonuç: Eğitim düzeyi yüksek olanlar, sigara içenler ve yakın akrabasında COVİD-19 geçirenler, COVİD-19 kaygısı ve takıntısı açısından risk altında olabilir. Risk altındaki gruplarda gebelikten itibaren anksiyete ve depresif belirtilerin azaltılması gerekmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Anksiyete
• COVİD-19
• pandemi
• postpartum depresyon
• takıntı

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