12. Depression among Mothers in Antenatal Period and its Causes; a Study Conducted on Primigravida Mothers
Sabahat Khan1, Wajiha Mehwish2 and Nousheen Ghaffar1
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine frequency of antenatal depression among primigravida mothers in antenatal period and causes of this depression.
Study Design: Observational / cross sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the M. Islam Teaching Hospital Gujranwala, a tertiary care hospital from January 2019 to June 2019.
Materials and Methods: We studied total 400 cases. An inclusion and exclusion criteria was designed for including patients in the study. Primigravida patients reported in Gyne & Obs OPD of study institution during study period, mothers having signs and symptoms of depression in antenatal period and depression diagnosed by psychiatrist as well having no co-morbidity were included in this study. Those mothers having any other co-morbidity as a cause of depression, conceiving second or third time were not included in the study. Patients for depression were evaluated on the basis of ICD-10 symptom checklist. SPSS version 16 was used to analyze data. Percentage, frequencies, means and P-value were calculated. Graphs and tables were used to express results. Written consent was obtained from all cases in the study group and permission was taken from ethical committee of the study institution as well.
Results: Four hundred 400 primigravida mothers were included in this study. Out of them 41.2% were diagnosed for depression including 49.7% mothers having mild, 35.2% with moderate and 15.2% having severe depression. Age range of cases was 15-40 years with mean age 24.5±5 year. Causes of depression among cases in study group were evaluated as low socioeconomic status in 54.5% mothers, lack of social support from husband in 18.8%, due to physical stress of pregnancy in 6.7%, unintended pregnancy in 6.1%, domestic violence in 9.1%, previous history of psychiatric illness and smoking was found as a cause of depression in 1.8% mothers. Single causative factor of depression was found in 69.7% and more than one causative factor were found in 30.3% cases. Educational status was also an important factor determining rate of depression among mothers. Out of 165 cases having depression, 34.5% were educated and 65.5% were uneducated mothers.
Conclusion: Depression is much common among primary gravida mothers and most common causes are low socioeconomic status, illiteracy, no social support from partner and domestic violence. It is more common in young mothers as compared to mature aged mothers.
Key Words: Depression, Antenatal period, primigravida mothers, psychological stress
Citation of articles: Khan S, Mehwish W, Ghaffar N. Depression among Mothers in Antenatal Period and its Causes; a Study Conducted on Primigravida Mothers. Med Forum 2019;30(9):46-49.