Postpartum depression and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder: prevalence and associated factors

Abstract

Background Despite the increased global interest from researchers in postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD), studies of PPD in China have shown a wide range of variability. Indeed, the prevalence and risk factors for PP-PTSD have received little attention in China. Aim To determine the prevalence of PPD and PP-PTSD in China, and to examine the relationships between a range of sociodemographic, pregnancy-related, and newborn-related variables, and PPD and PP-PTSD. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 1136 women who returned to the obstetrics clinic for routine postpartum examination were enrolled. The sociodemographic, pregnancy-related, and newborn-related characteristics were collected. Social support, and PPD and PP-PTSD symptoms were measured by the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Perinatal Post-traumatic Stress Questionnaire (PPQ). Results The prevalence rates of PPD and PP-PTSD symptoms were 23.5 and 6.1%, respectively. A multivariate model showed that the presence of PP-PTSD was the strongest risk factor for PPD symptoms and vice versa. Other risk factors for PPD included low sleep quality, low social support and newborn’s incubator admission. In terms of PP-PTSD symptoms, risk factors included the presence of PPD symptoms, non-Han ethnicity, and low social support, while having one child was a protective factor. Conclusions This study addressed some gaps in the literature and provided a better understanding of PPD and PP-PTSD in China, which may contribute to early detection and intervention. Attention should be paid to women who are most susceptible to PPD and/or PP-PTSD, including those with low social support, low sleep quality, newborn’s incubator admission, non-Han ethnicity, and women with siblings.

Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression

“…Psychological vulnerability is especially seen during postpartum. Consequently, there is a high prevalence of bonding and mood disorders within this period, the most common being postpartum depression, whose incidence, according to a recent study, came out to be 24% among healthy women in the post-delivery period [4,5]. A major depressive episode during the postpartum period is referred to as postpartum depression (PPD) [6].…”

Risk Factors for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after Childbirth: A Systematic Review

“…Childbirth complications, such as lower likelihood of co-homing, lack of skin-to-skin contact, and an absent of breastfeeding, have been associated with PTSD after birth [ 19 ]. These birth complications can be traced to problems in the newborn itself, such as newborn admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) [ 21 , 22 , 26 , 27 ], newborn admission to incubator [ 28 ], newborn admission to neonatal intermediate care, lower neonatal birth-weight [ 19 ], and infant experiencing actual or threatened injury [ 10 ]. Other factors related to PTSD are having a preterm birth (OR = 3.8; 95% CI = 0.27–53.16) [ 16 ], giving birth before arriving at hospital [ 24 ], primiparity (OR = 3.84; 95% CI = 0.99–2.11) [ 19 ], the Kristeller’s manoeuvre, lack of analgesic use during labour, or general anaesthesia [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

Between Personality Traits and Postpartum Depression: The Mediated Role of Maternal Self-Efficacy

“… 3 , 42 With the EPDS threshold of 13, the incidence of postpartum depression is reported as 23.5% in Shanghai, China. 43 However, a recent cross-sectional study shows a higher prevalence of postpartum depression (56.9%) 44 in Hubei, China, which is probably a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.…”