Postnatal depression among Bahraini women: prevalence of symptoms and psychosocial risk factors

Abstract

The prevalence of postnatal depression in Bahrain is unknown and screening for known risk factors does not take place. This study estimated the prevalence of postnatal depressive symptoms and the associated risk factors among a random sample of Bahraini women attending primary health care centres with their babies for the 8-week child check-up. The Arabic version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used with a cut-off score of ≥ 12 for depression. The prevalence of postnatal depressive symptoms among 237 mothers was 37.1%. No significant relationships were identified between depression symptoms and any of demographic variables or pregnancy/birth characteristics studied. However, several psychosocial risk factors were significantly associated with postnatal depression and, after multiple regression analysis, a history of depressive symptoms and perceived lack of support from the husband remained significant factors. Further studies that include diagnostic assessments are needed to confirm these findings. 1Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, Manama, Bahrain (Correspondence to F.H. Al Dallal: drfareeda@hotmail.co.uk Dépression postnatale chez des femmes bahreïnies : prévalence des symptômes et des facteurs de risque psychosociauxRÉSUMÉ La prévalence de la dépression postnatale à Bahreïn n'est pas connue et aucun dépistage des facteurs de risque avérés n'est réalisé. La présente étude a estimé la prévalence des symptômes de dépression postnatale et des facteurs de risque associés dans un échantillon aléatoire de femmes bahreïnies consultant les centres de soins de santé primaires avec leur bébé pour la visite des huit semaines. La version en langue arabe de l'Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (Échelle de dépression postnatale d'Édimbourg) a été utilisée avec une valeur seuil supérieure ou égale à 12 pour la dépression. La prévalence des symptômes de la dépression postnatale chez les 237 mères de l'étude était de 37,1 %. Aucune relation significative n'a été identifiée entre les symptômes de dépression et les variables démographiques ou les caractéristiques des grossesses ou des accouchements étudiés. Toutefois, plusieurs facteurs de risque psychosociaux étaient significativement associés à la dépression postnatale et, après l'analyse de régression multiple, des antécédents de symptômes dépressifs ainsi que le sentiment de recevoir un soutien insuffisant de la part du conjoint se sont révélé être des facteurs importants. Des études supplémentaires comprenant des évaluations diagnostiques sont requises pour confirmer ces résultats.‫املتوسط‬ ‫لرشق‬ ‫الصحية‬ ‫املجلة‬ ‫عرش‬ ‫الثامن‬ ‫املجلد‬ ‫اخلامس‬ ‫العدد‬ 433

Incidence and prevalence of postpartum depression in a rural community of India

“…Whereas the definition of the period of postpartum depression applies largely to a duration of 6 weeks in the postpartum period, 36 and most authors have assessed the prevalence of PPD at around 6-8 weeks postpartum, 1,11,20,21,[23][24]26,27,33,34 nevertheless a variable time period has been included and in some studies upto 6 -9 months postpartum period has been included, 9,15,32 Some authors have assessed prevalence of a cumulative antepartum and postpartum or peripartum depression. 12,35 In an interesting study conducted in Turkey, prevalence of depression was assessed at 36-38 weeks antepartum and then again at 5-8, 10-14 and 20-26 weeks postpartum.…”

“…1,6,8, 12,15,19.20,23,33 Most authors have resorted to a single cross sectional survey in the postpartum period. 1,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]14,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]26,27,29,[32][33][34] The essential flaw in a single time point evaluation in the postpartum period is over estimating the prevalence as it undermines the importance of, exclusion of cases that may have also pre existing depression in the antepartum period which does not necessarily classify as postpartum depression. Therefore the incidence of the disease is probably a more important estimate than point prevalence as was estimated in most studies.…”

Factors affecting the occurrence of postpartum depression among puerperal women in Sohag city, Egypt

“…These differences may be due the point in time applied, different cut off points of the same tool and other cultural issues. 20 Additionally, this could be explained by the different population size and method of sampling.…”

Prospective Study on Prevalence and Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression in Al-Dakhliya Governorate in Oman

“…The estimate PND prevalence in Lebanon is 21%, 9 United Arab Emirates (UAE) 22%, 10 Tunisia 19.2%, 11 Jordan 22%, 12 and Bahrain 37.1%. 13 The Sultanate of Oman is a multiethnic society on the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula with more than half of the population being Arabs. 14 Females contribute to more than 40% of the population in all of the mental health services in the country.…”