Assessment of Perinatal Depression Risk among internally displaced Yazidi Women in Iraq: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Yazidi survivors of a 2014 genocidal attack by the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have complex medical and mental health needs in the perinatal and postpartum period. Few studies have assessed perinatal mental health needs for this population of women who are living in camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Methods The specific aim of this formative cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of perinatal depressive symptoms, specifically the risk of perinatal depression symptoms, among a purposive sample of Yazidi women living in camps for internally displaced persons in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. One hundred twenty-two pregnant and recently postpartum (<1 year) Yazidi women completed a Kurdish-language version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) questionnaire. Pregnant and postpartum participants’ responses were analyzed together, in order to assess an overall combined risk of perinatal mental health issues for the study population. Logistic regression analyses were used to measure the association of participant characteristics with an elevated risk of perinatal depressive symptoms. Results Participants were 17-45 years of age (mean 32 years, SD 7.63) Among the 122 women, 67.2% (n=82) were pregnant and 32.8% (n=40) were <1 year postpartum. Overall, 78% (n=95) of participants were at an elevated risk of depression (EPDS >10), and 53% (n=65) of all participants were at risk of moderate to severe depression (EPDS >12). Thoughts of self-harm (EPDS item 10) were reported among 97% (n=118) of participants. Logistic regression analysis indicated that increased risk of perinatal depressive symptoms was significantly associated with reports of health problems during pregnancy (OR=3.22, 95% [CI]:1.08-9.61) and marital status (OR=16.00; 95% [CI]: 0.42-0.50). Age (OR= 0.84; 95% [CI]: 0.75–0.94) and level of education (OR=0.15; 95% [CI]: 0.42-0.50) had protective effects. Conclusions Rates of perinatal depressive symptoms risk among internally displaced Yazid pregnant and postpartum women are higher than the general Kurdish-speaking population in Iraq (28.4%). Culturally responsive trauma informed perinatal and postpartum care services, which include both community-based and clinical strategies for perinatal depressive symptoms and suicide prevention for this population, are critically needed.

Risk Factors of Mental Health Problems among Pregnant Women in El - Beheira Governorate

“…Among obstetric history, the result of these study revealed that experience of abortion and gender of baby were risk factors of antenatal depression. This result of the current study supported by Seidi A et.al., (2022) (47) and Shidhaye P et al, (2017) (46) . Furthermore, the risk factors of stress which reported by this study were age of marriage, sleeping hours at night, health problems associated previous pregnancy, post-partum complications and type of pregnancy.…”

Dysphoric milk ejection reflex (D‐MER) and its implications for mental health nursing

“…2019) or displaced persons (Seidi et al . 2022) to mention some diverse examples. A woman's mental health presentation in the perinatal period may be distinct when compared to any other time in the lifecycle.…”

“…This work is often in specialist settings. Nursing input extends to almost all care contexts, however, be it rural mental health care (Hine et al 2016), perinatal crisis intervention during intensive home treatment (Rubio et al 2021), forensic perinatal mental health (Dolan et al 2019) or displaced persons (Seidi et al 2022) to mention some diverse examples. A woman's mental health presentation in the perinatal period may be distinct when compared to any other time in the lifecycle.…”

Maternal mental health: Women’s voices and data from across the globe

“…These experiences have been differentiated with regard to the 'antenatal' and 'postnatal' time periods, or both [18]. Some of the Collection papers refer specifically to the adverse experiences of pregnancy loss or bereavement [19], domestic violence [20] or being displaced during genocidal violence [21].…”