[Prevalence of postpartum depression and associated factors]

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence of postpartum depression and associated factors.

Methods: The study was carried out in Pelotas, a city in the Southern region of Brazil, between October and November 2000. Mothers (n=410) were interviewed in the hospital using two questionnaires on obstetric and psychosocial data. Later, these mothers were visited at home, within 30 to 45 days after delivery. Occurrence of postpartum depressive symptoms was assessed by the Hamilton Scale for Depression. Chi-square test was used for comparison between proportions and non conditional logistic regression was utilized in the multivariate analysis. Data analysis was conducted hierarchically: economic variables in the first level, sociodemographic in the second level, the obstetrics variables in the third level and, in the fourth level, the psychosocial variables.

Results: The prevalence of postpartum depression observed in this sample was 19.1%. Family income (OR=5.24; CI 95%: 2.00-13.69), preference as to the child's gender (boys: OR=3.49; CI 95%: 1.76-6.93) and thinking about interrupting the pregnancy (OR=2.52; CI 95%: 1.33-4.76), were variables associated with postpartum depression.

Conclusions: These results indicate that low economic status of the puerperal woman and nonacceptance of pregnancy are key elements in the development of postpartum depression.