Impact of some social and clinical factors on the development of postpartum depression in Chinese women

Abstract

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is prevalent and may present major adverse impacts on mother and child health. According to previous studies, mostly from the western society, PPD may have complicated etiologies, such as genetic, social and psychological factors. The aim of this study was to explore the associations of some social and clinical factors, particularly those unique in Chinese, with significant PPD symptoms. Methods: A sample of 556 pregnant women in their 36th to 40th gestational week were randomly recruited in a cross-sectional study using a self-reported questionnaire, which collected maternal sociodemographic and clinical information. During their 2nd to 4th postpartum months, 522 participants responded to our screening of significant PPD symptoms, based on a score of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ≥9. Results: A total of 90 (17.3%) participants were identified with significant PPD symptoms, and the following factors were observed more frequently in women with significant PPD symptoms (PPD +) than with fewer symptoms (PPD −): intensive involvement of parents-in-law in a participant's life (living together with her, taking care of her, or discriminating against a female baby), lack of support from husband, cesarean delivery, and breast milk insufficiency (supplemented with formula). After multiple logistic regression analysis, parents-in-law's preference to baby boy while devaluing baby girl, dissatisfaction with husband's support, cesarean delivery, and mixed feeding were strongly associated with significant PPD symptoms. Conclusion: The potential risk factors for significant PPD symptoms, i.e., "son preference" custom, cesarean delivery and mixed feeding, deserve confirmation in continued, especially clinical diagnosis-based longitudinal studies.

Prenatal and Postnatal Anxiety and Depression in Mothers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In our study, one of the most important factors in the development of postpartum depression symptoms was Cesarean delivery. Other studies support this thesis [ 40 , 41 ]. It may be related to the greater limitations than after natural childbirth, pain at the site of the surgical wound, or delayed lactation.…”

Postpartum Depression: Assessment of Cultural Risk Factors

“…Strong social support leading to lowest and poor Social Support to highest PPD levels delineated the precedence of social support in mediating the risk factors for PPD. These results supporting previous research suggests that intensive and negative involvement of relatives in a participant's life and lack of support from husband were strongly associated with significant PPD symptoms 15 . Also, previous research on rural samples establishes the importance of partner's support 16 ; social support is also the best intervention strategy to lower PPD 17 .…”

Postpartum depression and family function in Chinese women within 1 year after childbirth: A cross‐sectional study

“…Our focus on probable as well as suspected PPD is a strength of the study because it broadens the group that may benefit from interventions to reduce PPD. In two previous cohort studies in China, 9‐point thresholds were used to determine the risk of PPD and to explore the risk factors of PPD (Li et al, 2020; Song et al, 2018). These authors identified lower prevalence rates of 17% (Li et al, 2020) and 8.5% (Song et al, 2018).…”

“…In two previous cohort studies in China, 9‐point thresholds were used to determine the risk of PPD and to explore the risk factors of PPD (Li et al, 2020; Song et al, 2018). These authors identified lower prevalence rates of 17% (Li et al, 2020) and 8.5% (Song et al, 2018). Other studies in China that used the threshold of 13 identified the lower prevalence of PPD of 27% (Deng et al, 2014) and 23% (Liu et al, 2008).…”