Identifying the factors associated with depressive symptoms among postpartum mothers in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Babu Ram Bhusal, Nisha Bhandari
PMID 31406836WHAT IT FOUND
Among 346 postpartum mothers in Nepal, 17.1% had depressive symptoms.
After accounting for other factors, no adequate rest, abortion history, marital dissatisfaction, stressful life events and poor relationship with husband remained associated.
Key findings
0117.1% of mothers had postpartum depressive symptoms, using the study's score cut-off of 12 or more.
02In adjusted analysis, no adequate rest during pregnancy was associated with four times higher adjusted odds of symptoms (aOR = 4.023).
03In adjusted analysis, physical, psychological and sexual violence were no longer significantly associated with symptoms.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show whether the factors came before the depressive symptoms. It was done at one tertiary hospital in Nepal, so the findings may not apply to other settings or populations. The questionnaire measured only frequently reported risk factors, so other causes were not examined. Violence was self-reported in an interview, and underreporting of violence, especially sexual violence, could not be ruled out. In adjusted analysis, violence and multiple pregnancies were no longer significant. Only 1.7% of participants reported previous depression, which may limit the ability to detect an association.
Declared interests
The authors declare no competing interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat these factors as causes or as proof that addressing them prevents depression. The study measured factors and symptoms at one time point, and adjusted analysis found violence and multiple pregnancies no longer significant.