Risk factors of paternal postnatal depression in Pakistan: Findings from an urban sample.
Maria Atif, Mark Halaki, Chin Moi Chow and 1 others
PMID 35596259WHAT IT FOUND
New fathers whose wives screened positive for depression were far more likely to be depressed themselves.
Fathers reporting their own sleep disturbance also faced higher odds of postnatal depression. These two factors stood out after adjusting for age, income, and marital satisfaction.
Key findings
01A spouse's positive depression screen (EPDS >12) was associated with paternal postnatal depression with an adjusted odds ratio of 13.04 (95% CI 1.82-28.37).
02The father's own sleep disturbance was associated with paternal postnatal depression with an adjusted odds ratio of 9.40 (95% CI 1.09-21.62).
0323.5% of the 51 participants scored more than 10 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, indicating positive screening for postnatal depression.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (n=51), which limits the generalizability of the findings and may affect the stability of the odds ratios. Recruitment occurred through the participants' wives, which may have introduced selection bias. The study used the EPDS, a screening tool, rather than a clinical diagnosis, which may overestimate true prevalence. The cross-sectional nature of the data collection means temporal relationships between risk factors and depression cannot be established.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that financial hardship or marital satisfaction are independent predictors of paternal depression in this context, as they lost significance in the adjusted model. The strong association with spouse's depression does not prove causation due to the cross-sectional design.