Risk of postnatal depression and pregnancy in Bornova, İzmir [İzmirin Bornova i·lçesinde gebelik ve dogum sonrasi depresyon riski]

Objective: The purpose of this research was to examine the risk for depression during pregnancy and in the postnatal period in Bornova, Izmir. Material and Methods: This descriptive type of research was conducted with (n= 327) women who were between 32-36 weeks pregnancy and registered in 18 primary health clinics in region. No sampling method was used. The sociodemographic questionnaire and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were used in the research. The data were obtained in two phases. In the first phase the sociodemographic questionnaire and EPDS were administered to women in their 32nd-36th week of pregnancy. The second phase took place four to eight weeks postnatal when the women were administered the EPDS again. Of all the women 83.5% were reached. Results: 37% of the women were in the 25-29 years old age group and their mean age was 26 ± 4.6. It was determined that 22% of the women were at risk of postnatal depression. The relationship between the women's prenatal and postnatal EPDS score means were found. Pregnant who had extended families had a 2.87 times greater risk for depression than those in nuclear families, and women who did not want their pregnancy had a 5.00 times greater risk than those who did. Women who had delivered a child felt bad emotionally had a 2.63 times greater risk for depression. Conclusion: Depression in pregnancy and postnatal depression are mental health problems that should not be ignored for a healthy mother-infant-father triangle. Copyright © 2010 by Türkiye Klinikleri.