Planned Place of Birth—Impact of Psychopathological Risk Factors on the Choice of Birthplace and Its Postpartum Effect on Psychological Adaption: An Exploratory Study

The choice of birthplace may have an important impact on a woman’s health. In this longitudinal study, we investigated the psychopathological risk factors that drive women’s choice of birthplace, since their influence is currently not well understood. The research was conducted in 2011/12 and we analyzed data of 177 women (obstetric unit, n = 121; free standing midwifery unit, n = 42; homebirth, n = 14). We focused antepartally (M = 34.3 ± 3.3) on sociodemographic and risk factors of psychopathology, such as prenatal distress (Prenatal Distress Questionnaire), depressiveness (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), birth anxiety (Birth Anxiety Scale), childhood trauma (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), and postpartally (M = 6.65 ± 2.6) on birth experience (Salmon’s Item List), as well as psychological adaption, such as postpartum depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and birth anxiety felt during birth (modified Birth Anxiety Scale). Women with fear of childbirth and the beginning of birth were likely to plan a hospital birth. In contrast, women with fear of touching and palpation by doctors and midwives, as well as women with childhood trauma, were more likely to plan an out-of-hospital birth. Furthermore, women with planned out-of-hospital births experienced a greater relief of their birth anxiety during the birth process than women with planned hospital birth. Our results especially show that women with previous mental illnesses, as well as traumatic experiences, seem to have special needs during childbirth, such as a safe environment and supportive care.

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for screening for depression in the first year post delivery in a low-resourced rural setting in Kenya

Postnatal depression is one of the most common mental disorders among postnatal mothers and may have severe consequences for mothers and their children. Locally validated screening tools that can be self- or lay interviewer-administered are required to identify at-risk women, especially in settings with no mental health specialists. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of a culturally adapted version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in a local dialect (Kamba) in a Kenyan setting. Trained research assistants administered the local-language version of self-report scales (EPDS) to a sample of 544 Kamba-speaking women. The same scale was re-administered to the same research participants two weeks later by the same research assistants. The test scores were compared with an external ‘gold standard’ according to the DSM-IV criteria Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for adults (MINI-Plus). The EPDS had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.867 with 95% C.I of 0.836 to 0.894, with a cut-off point of ≥11, sensitivity of 81.0% (95% C.I 70.6–89.0) and specificity of 82.6% (95% CI 78.8–85.9). The positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 44.1% and 96.2%, respectively. The internal reliability was 0.852 and the test-retest reliability was 0.496. The EPDS showed good utility in detecting depressive disorder in Kamba-speaking postnatal women. It does not have to be administered by mental health workers (who are few in low- and middle-income countries); rather, this can be done by a trained lay interviewer.

Factors associated with maternal overall quality of life six months postpartum: a cross sectional study from The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study

Background Having good Quality of Life (QoL) is essential, particularly for women after childbirth. However, little is known about the factors associated with maternal QoL after giving birth. We aimed to investigate the relationship between characteristics of the mother (socio-demographic variables), selected symptoms (depression and joy/anger), health perception (perception of birth) and possible characteristics of the environment (infant temperament, colic, sleep, parental relationship), with mothers’ overall quality of life when the child is 6 months of age. Methods This study is based on the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), conducted at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health from June 1999 to December 2008, which included a total of 86,724 children. Maternal QoL was assessed by the Satisfaction With Life Scale. Joy and anger were measured using the Differential Emotional Scale, mothers’ mental health was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and satisfaction with relationship was measured using the Relationship Satisfaction Scale. Child temperament was measured using the Infant Characteristics Questionnaire and colic, sleep duration and feelings related to childbirth were assessed by mothers’ reports. The associations between life satisfaction and selected variables were analysed using stepwise multiple linear regression models, and the results are presented as effect sizes (ES). Results Maternal feelings of joy of having a baby (ES = 0.35), high relationship satisfaction (ES = 0.32), as well as having a baby with normal sleep (ES = 0.31), are factors associated with higher maternal overall QoL. Postnatal depression was negatively associated with mothers’ QoL, and infant colic or child’s temperament (fussiness) showed no such association with mothers’ QoL. Conclusions Health professionals and clinicians should focus on infants sleep but also on supporting joy of motherhood and strengthening relationships of the new parents when they develop health interventions or provide counselling to new mothers and their families.

Relationship Between Postnatal Depression of Mental Health Patients and the Psychological Health of Their Offspring

Postnatal depression is a major illness affecting maternal and family health. The rate of postnatal depression among mental health clients is postulated to be higher than in the community due to the added brain assault. Children of parents who are mental health clients are more likely to have psychological problems compared to children from other parents in the community. This study investigates the rate of postnatal depression among mental health clients and their offspring's psychological health. A total of 140 mental health clients were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). They subsequently completed the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) regarding their children. The majority ethnicity was the Kadazan (40.7%). The mean age of mothers was 38.6 (7) years with most having a secondary education (53.6%) and a household income per month of < RM1000 per month (27.1%). The postnatal depression rate was 47.8%. Higher EPDS scores were associated with higher total SDQ scores in their offspring. Model 1 was unadjusted, giving an OR of 5.65 [95% CI (3.74, 7.55)], p < 0.001. After adjustment for confounders, Model 2 had an OR of 5.51 [95% CI (3.57, 7.46)], p < 0.001. More efforts need to be given to the early detection of maternal depression and its prompt treatment in mental health clients because of the relationship with the psychological health of the offspring.

Find that thing that weighs more than drugs

Creating a space for bodies to count as corporeal linguistic landscapes or ‘skinscapes’ is an avenue that speaks to the growing interest of bodies-in-place and placemaking in the physical landscape. In this essay, I extend skinscapes and placemaking to that of the digital space, specifically Amiena Inspired, my YouTube channel. A frank autoethnography detailing my formative drug abuse, postnatal depression and logotherapeutic escape from the bounds of religion, motherhood and womanhood in academia serves as a disruptive narrative to the hegemonic hypermasculine prisoner narrative currently proliferated. I argue that I traded my social status and expectations of a ‘good woman/mother/Muslim/academic/wife’ for authenticity-in-place, with my gender serving as marked materiality of the growing purview of drug abuse in Cape Town.

Trầm cảm sau sinh và một số yếu tố liên quan ở phụ nữ có con dưới 6 tháng tuổi tại thành phố Cần Thơ năm 2019

Trầm cảm sau sinh tác động không chỉ đến bà mẹ mà còn đến việc chăm sóc trẻ đặc biệt là trong 6 tháng đầu. Nghiên cứu nhằm mục tiêu xác định tỷ lệ trầm cảm sau sinh và mô tả một số yếu tố liên quan ở phụ nữ có con dưới 6 tháng tuổi bị tại thành phố Cần Thơ năm 2019. Nghiên cứu mô tả cắt ngang trên 498 phụ nữ có con dưới 6 tháng tuổi tại thành phố Cần Thơ năm 2019 bằng phương pháp chọn ngẫu nhiên nhiều giai đoạn thông qua thang điểm EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) với điểm cắt là 13 điểm. Kết quả cho thấy tỷ lệ trầm cảm sau sinh (TCSS) theo thang điểm EPDS là 25,7%. Các yếu tố liên quan đến tình trạng trầm cảm sau sinh trong nghiên cứu bao gồm: Tiền sử điều trị hiếm muộn (OR = 1,5 (1,1 - 4,6); p = 0,031), số lần khám thai trong thai kì (OR = 3,7 (1,6 - 8,1); p = 0,001), đau sau sinh (OR = 10,5 (4,5 - 24,5); p = 0,003), có người tâm sự khi cần (OR = 5,3 (3,4 - 8,3); p = 0,027), áp lực thay đổi diện mạo, duy trì vóc dáng (OR = 11,5 (7,0 - 18,5); p = 0,018), gặp các biến cố sau sinh (OR = 5,9 (3,7 - 9,2) p = 0,027), thay đổi thói quen ăn uống ( OR= 4,9 (3,2 - 7,5); p = 0,047), sự phát triển của bé ( OR = 6,8 (3,2 - 14,4); p = 0,005). Tình trạng trầm cảm sau sinh ở phụ nữ có con dưới 6 tháng tuổi tại thành phố Cần Thơ hiện đang ở mức cao, cần có những biện pháp can thiệp hữu hiệu cho nhóm đối tượng này.

PREVALÊNCIA DE SOFRIMENTO MENTAL NO CICLO GRAVÍDICO-PUERPERAL: SURVEY ONLINE DE ABORDAGEM NACIONAL

Introdução: Durante o ciclo gravídico-puerperal, a mulher pode experimentar mudanças fisiológicas, sociais, psicológicas e físicas. Dados epidemiológicos mostram que a depressão ocorre na razão de duas mulheres para um homem e, que 20% a 40% tem sido diagnosticada com perturbação emocional ou disfunção cognitiva no período pós-parto. As condições impostas à essas mães durante esse período exercem papel fundamental no desenvolvimento de transtornos mentais. Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de sofrimento mental em mulheres no período gravídico puerperal. Material e métodos: Trata-se de estudo transversal exploratório, realizado com 1073 mulheres no ciclo gravídico-puerperal, dos 27 Estados brasileiros, incluindo o Distrito Federal, por meio de formulário on-line. Os dados foram coletados por três instrumentos: Roteiro de Caracterização Sociodemográfica, Condições de Saúde e Gineco-Obstétricas; Questionário de Autorrelato-20 (SRQ-20 – Self Report Questionnaire-20) e Escala de Depressão Pós-Natal de Edimburgo (EPDS – Edinburgh Postnatal Depression). Os dados foram analisados de forma descritiva por meio do software IBM SPSS, versão 26. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade Federal do Piauí, sob parecer nº.: 4.187.878. Resultados: Identificou-se a prevalência de mulheres adultas (98,2%); com Ensino Superior completo ou com Pós-Graduação (80,5%); casadas/união estável (89,7%) e; com renda familiar superior a dois salários-mínimos (71,5%). Sobre as doenças psiquiátricas listadas pelas mulheres no ciclo gravídico-puerperal, houve predomínio de depressão (15,3%), de ansiedade (9,9%) e de síndrome do pânico (3,49%). Quanto ao histórico familiar de doenças psiquiátricas, casos de depressão (26,2%), de ansiedade (6,4%), de bipolaridade (5%) e de síndrome do pânico (4,9%) foram as enfermidades mais frequentes. Conclusão: Evidenciou-se que dentre os transtornos mentais mais comuns em mulheres no ciclo gravídico-puerperal e, em seus familiares, a depressão foi predominante, seguido da ansiedade. Logo, é crucial a participação da equipe multiprofissional atuando junto à essas mulheres para que seja possível, prevenir, detectar e tratar esses transtornos.