Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Jul-Sep;9(2):247-53.
doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2015.4246. Epub 2015 Jul 27.

Effect of Telephone-Based Support on Postpartum Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Hourieh Shamshiri Milani  1 , Eznollah Azargashb  2 , Narges Beyraghi  3 , Sara Defaie  2 , Taha Asbaghi  2
Affiliations

Effect of Telephone-Based Support on Postpartum Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Hourieh Shamshiri Milani et al. Int J Fertil Steril. 2015 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is one public health issue that affects both maternal and child health. This research studies the effect of health volunteers' telephone- based support on decreasing PPD.

Materials and methods: This randomized controlled trial evaluated 203 women who had uncomplicated deliveries. The women completed the Edinburg Postnatal Depres- sion Scale (EPDS), 10 to 15 days after childbirth in order to be assessed for pre-trial depression scores. The cut-off point for depression was considered to be a score of >10. We randomly assigned 54 eligible mothers (n=27 per group) with mild and moderate de- pression to the intervention and control groups. In both groups, mothers received routine postpartum care. The intervention group additionally received telephone support from health volunteers. A questionnaire was used to gather demographic and obstetric infor- mation. By the end of the 6thweek, mothers completed the EPDS to be reassessed for depression after intervention. Data were analyzed using the chi-square, Fisher's exact, t- and paired t tests.

Results: The mean depression scores before intervention (10 to 15 days after childbirth) in the intervention and control groups did not significantly differ (P=0.682). Depres- sion scores of the intervention and control groups showed a significant difference after 6 weeks (P=0.035). In addition, there was a significant decrease in depression for the intervention and control groups (P=0.045).

Conclusion: Health volunteer telephone-based support effectively decreased PPD and may be beneficial to women with symptoms of mild and moderate PPD (Registration number: IRCT201202159027N1).

Keywords: Mother; Postnatal Care; Postpartum Depression; Volunteers; Women Health.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Fisher J, Tran T, La BT, Kriitmaa K, Rosenthal D, Tran T. Common perinatal mental disorders in northern Viet Nam: community prevalence and health care use. Bull World Health Organ. 2010;88(10):737–745. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Comasco E, Sylvén SM, Papadopoulos FC, Oreland L, Sundstrom-Poromaa I, Skalkidou A. Postpartum depressive symptoms and the BDNF Va166Met functional polymorphism: effect of season of delivery. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2011;14(6):453–463. - PubMed
    1. Boyd RC, Mogul M, Newman D, Coyne JC. Screening and referral for postpartum depression among low-income women: a qualitative perspective from community health workers. Depress Res Treat. 2011;2011:320605–320605. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Eros E, Hajos A. Prevention of perinatal depression and anxiety with periconceptional care. Orv Hetil. 2011;152(23):903–908. - PubMed
    1. Surkan PJ, Kennedy CE, Hurley KM, Black MM. Maternal depression and early childhood growth in developing countries: systematic review and meta-analysis. Bull World Health Organ. 2011;89(8):608–615. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources