Risk factors for depression in postnatal first year, in eastern Turkey


Inandi T., Elci O. C., Öztürk A., Egri M., Polat A., Sahin T. K.

International Journal of Epidemiology, vol.31, no.6, pp.1201-1207, 2002 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 31 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2002
  • Doi Number: 10.1093/ije/31.6.1201
  • Journal Name: International Journal of Epidemiology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1201-1207
  • Keywords: Cross-sectional study, Depression, Maternal health, Postnatal, Risk factors
  • Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Background. There are few studies reporting depression in the postnatal period in developing countries. In this study our objective was to evaluate women from eastern Turkey in the postnatal one-year period in order to analyse the risk factors for depression. Methods. In this cross-sectional, multi-centre study, we selected a study sample from five eastern provinces. Among 2602 randomly selected women who gave birth within the last year, we included 2514 women in our analysis. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used for the evaluation of depression. Results. The percentage of women with high depression scores was 27.2%. Excess risk of depression was associated with several factors including unemployment, low education, poverty, poor family relations, low marital age, lack of medical services, and mental health problems. Conclusions. Depression in postnatal women is an important public health problem in the less developed eastern part of Turkey.