Anxiety and Depression among Pregnant Women and Mothers of Children Under one Year in Sindupalchowk District

Abstract

Background: Common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression among mothers of young children and expectants can silently deteriorate the health of the mother with significant impact on the newborn. The primary aims were to determine the proportion of pregnant women and mothers of children under one year with anxiety and depression and their associated factors in Sindhupalchowk.Methods: We used the Hopkins Symptom Checklist 25 and a structured questionnaire in a cross-sectional study to collect information from 778 women (164 pregnant women, 614 mothers of children under one year) selected through multi-stage sampling. Results: Among pregnant women, the study found that 21.3%(95%CI:15.7–28.3) had anxiety and 23.8% (95%CI:17.8–31.0) had depression. Being from the Dalit ethnic group was independently associated with anxiety and depression. Among mothers of children under one year, 18.7% (95%CI:15.7–22.1) had anxiety and 15.2% (95%CI:12.4–18.4) had depression. Among these women, low education level; primary source of family income being agriculture, animal husbandry or labour; history of unplanned pregnancy; and use of tobacco were independently associated with anxiety and history of unplanned pregnancy and use of tobacco were independently associated with depression.Conclusions: A substantial proportion of women had anxiety and depression with higher odds of anxiety and depression in certain group of women. Targeted health system interventions are needed for improving the psychological well being of women, including pregnant women, as well as newborn health and wellbeing.Keywords: Anxiety; depression; mothers of children under one year; Nepal; pregnant women.

Antenatal depression and its associated factors among women of Godawari Municipality, Lalitpur, Nepal: a cross-sectional study

“…The prevalence of depression among pregnant women was found to be 24.8%, which is similar to the estimate of antenatal depression suggested for South Asia by a meta-analysis, approximated at 25.0% 17. The observed prevalence rate of antenatal depression is similar to a cross-sectional study from Sindhupalchowk district, Nepal, where 23.8% of pregnant women were found to be depressed in the year 2015 19. However, the current prevalence is higher than the prevalence of antenatal depression noted among the women visiting public health facilities for antenatal checkups in Kathmandu, which was 18% in the year 2017 18.…”

“…This is in line with the study from Sindhupalchowk district of Nepal where women with unplanned pregnancy were found to have threefold increase in odds of depression (AOR: 3.43, 95% CI: 1.78 to 6.62) as compared with women with planned pregnancy. 19 Similarly, another study from Pakistan also shared a similar finding, where women with unintended pregnancy had almost twice the odds (AOR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.40 to 2.69) of depression. 38 Likewise, a study from Ethiopia also revealed that pregnant women who had not planned their pregnancy were six times more likely to be depressed than those who planned their pregnancy.…”

“… 17 The observed prevalence rate of antenatal depression is similar to a cross-sectional study from Sindhupalchowk district, Nepal, where 23.8% of pregnant women were found to be depressed in the year 2015. 19 However, the current prevalence is higher than the prevalence of antenatal depression noted among the women visiting public health facilities for antenatal checkups in Kathmandu, which was 18% in the year 2017. 18 In context of this study area, a community-based study from 2017 noted that 19% of postpartum women were depressed in Godawari Municipality, Nepal.…”

“…17 The prevalence of antenatal depression in Nepal varies widely from 18% to 33% depending on the screening tool used, assessment time, sample size and sample characteristics. [18][19][20] Depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period is a major public health concern which is often neglected in developing countries like Nepal, in the areas of treatment as well as research. 21 In Nepal, only a few studies have been published focusing on antenatal depression.…”

“…In South Asia, the prevalence of antenatal depression is reported to be approximately 25% 17. The prevalence of antenatal depression in Nepal varies widely from 18% to 33% depending on the screening tool used, assessment time, sample size and sample characteristics 18–20…”