Risk factors for postpartum depression among Chinese women: path model analysis

Abstract

BackgroundPostpartum depression causes harm to both mothers and infants. The purpose of this study was to find out several potential risk factors, and to identify the intrinsic interrelationships between factors and postpartum depression by constructing a path model. The results of this study may help to control the increasing incidence of maternal postpartum depression.MethodsThe study was based on a sample of mothers from a cross-sectional study which was set up at 4 weeks after a mother had childbirth and was conducted in three streets at Kaifu District of Changsha in Hunan province from January to December 2015. Questionnaires were distributed to subjects who responded to questions concerning factors related to pregnancy, delivery and infants within 4 weeks after childbirth. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to measure postpartum depression. Chi-square test was used to detect significant differences between non-postpartum depression group and postpartum depression group. A path model was constructed to explore the interrelationships between variables, and to verify the relationships between variables and postpartum depression.ResultsThe proportion of maternal postpartum depression was 6.7%. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences between non-postpartum depression group and postpartum depression group (all P-values <0.05) on the part of maternal age, parity, frequent exposure to mobile phone during pregnancy, gestational hypertensive disorders, fetus number, premature delivery, birth weight, initiation of breastfeeding, mode of feeding, infant illness within 4 weeks after delivery and infant weight at 4 weeks. Path analysis results showed that the final model could be fitted well with sample data (P = 0.687, CMIN/DF = 0.824, NFI = 0.992, RFI = 0.982, IFI = 1.002, TLI =1.004, CFI = 1.000 and RMSEA < 0.001). Frequent exposure to mobile phone during pregnancy, maternal age and gestational hypertensive disorders had both direct and indirect effects on postpartum depression. Mode of feeding and infant weight at 4 weeks, which was the most total effect on postpartum depression, had only a direct impact on postpartum depression. Fetus number, premature delivery, initiation of breastfeeding and birth weight had only an indirect influence on postpartum depression.ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest that constructing a path analysis model could identify potential factors and explore the potential interrelations between factors and postpartum depression. It is an effective way to prevent maternal postpartum depression by taking appropriate intervention measures and carrying out health education for pregnant women.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12884-017-1320-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prevalence and associated factors of postpartum depression among immigrant women in Guangzhou, China

“…This tradition includes a set of practices involving prescribed diet, clothing and other cautions that must be followed during the first month after delivery. Numerous studies have revealed "doing the month" have positive influence on the recovery of the mother and successful adaptation to maternal role [21,22]. Not following this ritual could lead to postpartum difficulties.…”

Postpartum depression and associated factors among postpartum women in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2020

“…It is estimated that the prevalence of PPD is about 10% in developed countries [ 6 ] and nearly 20% in developing countries [ 7 ]. The magnitude of PPD is 6.7% in China [ 8 ], 21% in Japan [ 9 ], 11 to 16% in India [ 10 ], and 39.4% in Bangladesh [ 11 ]. In Africa, the prevalence of PPD is 18.7% in Kenya [ 12 ], 7% in Ghana [ 13 ], and 9.2% in Sudan [ 14 ].…”

Antenatal depression and its potential causal mechanisms among pregnant mothers in Gondar town: application of structural equation model

“…The stress process model was developed by Peirlin and colleagues [45] and consists of three main conceptual domains: the source of stress (stressor) domain, which includes life events and chronic life strains; the mediators domain, which includes any mediators of stress that have an ability to mediate the impact of stressfull situations such as social support and coping styles; and the manifestation of the stress or stress outcomes as various mental disorders. This stress process model has been tested both in pregnant [46] and postnatal [47] populations in China for antenatal and postnatal specific depression. For the current study we considered direct stressors including sociodemographic factors, obstetric and psychosocial factors and mediating factors such as social and personal resources (social support, partner support, personal coping abilities).…”