Social support and postpartum depression in low-socioeconomic level

Abstract

The aim of this article was to determine risk factors for postpartum depression in low-socioeconomic level women during the first postpartum year and to determine the relationship between postpartum depression symptoms and social support.

This is a cross-sectional study. Data were collected through administration of a questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Data were analyzed utilizing unpaired t test, one-way analysis of variance, and logistic regression analysis.

The prevalence of perceived symptoms of postpartum depression was 21.0% (scores of a parts per thousand yen13) and there was a correlation (r = -0.36, p = 0.000) between MSPSS and EPDS scores. The mean EPDS score was 8.36 +/- A 5.6 while the mean MSPSS score was 64.49 +/- A 15.2.

Postpartum depression symptoms are common among Turkish women. These findings provide important information about the role of social support related to postpartum depressive symptoms among Turkish women. Informing health professionals about these issues is an important step towards improving maternal and child health care services.