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. 2023 Nov;32(Suppl 1):S141-S146.
doi: 10.4103/ipj.ipj_225_23. Epub 2023 Nov 30.

Biopsychosocial correlates of emotional problems in women during pregnancy and postpartum period

Archana Javadekar  1 , Arpita Karmarkar  1 , Suprakash Chaudhury  1 , Daniel Saldanha  1 , Jaideep Patil  1
Affiliations

Biopsychosocial correlates of emotional problems in women during pregnancy and postpartum period

Archana Javadekar et al. Ind Psychiatry J. 2023 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Transition to motherhood is associated with several emotional problems that can have long-term consequences on the mother and baby.

Aim: To examine the association of various biomedical and cultural factors with the new onset of emotional problems during pregnancy and postpartum period.

Materials and methods: This prospective longitudinal study included 300 pregnant women interviewed in the third trimester.

Results: The prevalence of emotional problems in the study group was 31.58%. The prevalence of anxiety disorder NOS and mixed anxiety and depressive disorder in the last trimester of pregnancy in our study was 4% and 1.33%, respectively, and 0.67% and 1.33%, respectively, at 4 days postpartum. At 6 weeks postpartum, the prevalence of anxiety disorder NOS was 1.33%, generalized anxiety disorder was 0.67%, and major depression was 1.33. The prevalence of postpartum blues in our study was 25.33%.

Conclusion: There was a significant association between psychiatric disorders during and postpartum period and the following factors: higher parity, increased maternal age, low hemoglobin levels, cesarean section, planned pregnancy, and extended family. Postpartum blues was associated with higher parity and low blood pressure.

Keywords: Antenatal depression; postpartum blues; postpartum depression.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

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