Prenatal Depression and Its Associated Risk Factors Among Pregnant Women in Bangalore: A Hospital Based Prevalence Study

Abstract

Background: Depression is the commonest psychological problem that affects a woman during her perinatal period worldwide. The risk of prenatal depression increases as the pregnancy progresses and clinically significant depressive symptoms are common in the mid and late trimester. There is a paucity of research on depression during the prenatal period in India. Given this background, the present study aimed to assess the prevalence of prenatal depression and its associated risk factors among pregnant women in Bangalore, Southern India. Methods: The study was nested within an on-going cohort study. The study participants included 280 pregnant women who were attending the antenatal clinic at Jaya Nagar General Hospital (Sanjay Gandhi Hospital) in Bangalore. The data was collected by using a structured questionnaire which included. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to screen for prenatal depression. Results: The proportion of respondents who screened positive for prenatal depression was 35.7%. Presence of domestic violence was found to impose a five times higher and highly significant risk of developing prenatal depression among the respondents. Pregnancy related anxiety and a recent history of catastrophic events were also found to be a positive predictors of prenatal depression. Conclusion: The high prevalence of prenatal depression in the present study is suggestive of its significance as a public health problem. Health care plans therefore can include screening and diagnosis of prenatal depression in the antenatal care along with other health care facilities provided.

Prevalence and risk factors for depression among antenatal women during third trimester of pregnancy in a tertiary care centre

“…According to a study published in Karnataka state of Kerala which used EDPS scale, the prevalence was found to be 35.7%. 9 The high prevalence in this study might be due to the fact that the study was conducted among the inpatient antenatal women. There might also have been underreporting of cases previously due to lack of awareness, social stigma, social and family reasons, confusing symptoms with normal changes in pregnancy and inadequate screening.…”

A cross-sectional study on ante-natal depression in a tertiary health care hospital in Navi Mumbai

“…Similar results were seen in other studies. 16,17,19 In contrast to the above a study done in Chennai concluded that the risk of developing depression was the same for primi and multi-gravid. 9 Depression was also not significantly associated with the trimester of pregnancy.…”

“…Similar prevalence of depression was seen in other studies, 18%, 24.8%, 26%, while a few others showed a higher prevalence of depression 35.7%, 36.76%, suggesting that this is a need to screen the antenatal women for early diagnosis and effective management of depression. 4,11,[14][15][16] In Table 1 which depicts the socio-economic factors associated with depression it is seen that most of the women were Hindu, 67.6%, followed by Muslims 29.5%. Majority of the women were in the age group 18-25 years (63.5%), suggesting a still prevalent tradition of early marriages and pregnancy.…”

“…Similar strong association between marital discord within family with depression was also seen in other studies. [14][15][16][17] Table 2 depicts the relationship between maternal factors and depression. It was seen that depression was significantly higher in unplanned pregnancy (34.1%) than a planned pregnancy.…”

“…The result was in accordance with the findings from other studies which also showed a corelation between unplanned pregnancy and depression. 11,[16][17][18] Preference and pressure for a male child was also significantly associated with depression (p<0.025). In India due to various cultural factors there is a preference and pressure to have a male child.…”