Effect of the Covid 19 pandemic on depression and mother-infant bonding in uninfected postpartum women in a rural region


Erten Ö., Bıyık İ., Soysal C., İnce O., Keskin N., Taşcı Y.

BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH, vol.19, no.22, pp.1-15, 2022 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 19 Issue: 22
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1186/s12884-022-04580-8.
  • Journal Name: BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Page Numbers: pp.1-15
  • Kütahya Health Sciences University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background: Postpartum depression and maternal-infant attachment scores were examined in uninfected women during the COVID 19 pandemic in Kutahya, a rural province in Turkey's North Aegean region.

Methods: This cohort study was conducted in the Kutahya Health Sciences University Hospital obstetrics unit between April 2021 and August 2021.  178 low-risk term pregnant women who gave birth were given the surveys Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBQ) 6 weeks after birth. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale was used to determine postpartum depression and the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale was used to determine maternal attachment.

Results: In this study, the postpartum depression rate was calculated as 17.4%. When depressed and non-depressed patients were compared, education level, maternal age, BMI, MIBQ score, history of previous pregnancies, route of delivery, previous operation history, economic status, employment status and pregnancy follow-up information were found to be similar (p>0.05). The ratings on the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale were found to be similar in depressed and non-depressed patients (p>0.05). The odds of maternal depression for patients who received guests at home was 3.068 (95%CI [1.149-8.191]) times the odds of patients who did not receive guests at home.

Conclusions: Although a relationship has been found between accepting guests in the postpartum period and postpartum depression, it is necessary to investigate in further studies whether there is a causal relationship.