Longitudinal qualitative research (LQR) is an emerging methodology in health behavior and nursing research. Researchers are turning to LQR to understand experiences across time as well as identify facilitators and inhibitors of health/illness behaviors and transitions. Currently, a lack of information exists to guide researchers on LQR techniques and considerations. Our objective was to provide a methodological resource for health behavior and nursing researchers conducting LQR. LQR may be applied to understand any human experience, as well as the sequalae of the experience and is well suited for studying transitions and developmental or behavioral changes. Conducting LQR is resource intensive and requires flexibility and complex analyses. We discuss multiple components of LQR such as design considerations, analysis options, and our lessons learned. Despite complexities, LQR provides the opportunity to understand experiences across time within an individual and among a group resulting in holistic, in-depth understandings beyond a cross-sectional time point.
Background:
Perinatal depression affects 21–50% of women in South Africa and poses significant health risks to mothers and children. Trajectories of depressive symptoms change over time and have not been well characterized during the perinatal period in low and middle-income countries.
Methods:
Data from women enrolled in a population-based birth cohort study in Paarl, South Africa with at least 3 depression measures from pregnancy through 18 months postpartum (N=831) were analyzed. Depressive symptoms were measured continuously using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Group-based trajectory models were used to estimate trajectories of depressive symptoms during the perinatal period and multinomial multivariable models to identify predictors of trajectory group membership.
Results:
Five distinct trajectory patterns of depressive symptoms were identified: moderate levels of depressive symptoms during pregnancy but minimal postpartum (3.5%), minimal levels during pregnancy and increasing postpartum (3.7%), unstable levels peaking at 12 months postpartum (6.6%), mild levels with slight decrease postpartum (82.9%), and severe levels during pregnancy and postpartum (3.1%). Membership in the chronic severe symptom group was associated with stressful life events, sexual intimate partner violence and tobacco use.
Limitations:
Modeling limitations prevented determining how changes in psychosocial predictors over time may influence depressive symptom trajectories.
Conclusions:
Mild to severe depressive symptoms during pregnancy/postpartum were common among this South African cohort. Interventions to treat women with severe chronic depressive symptoms with co-occurring psychosocial issues are urgently needed.
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