AUTHOR=Khan Rukhsana , Waqas Ahmed , Mustehsan Zille Huma , Khan Amna Saeed , Sikander Siham , Ahmad Ikhlaq , Jamil Anam , Sharif Maria , Bilal Samina , Zulfiqar Shafaq , Bibi Amina , Rahman Atif 

TITLE=Predictors of Prenatal Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study in Rural Pakistan

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.584287

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2021.584287

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> To determine the prevalence and association of prenatal depression with socioeconomic, demographic and personal factors among pregnant women living in Kallar Syedan, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Five hundred women in the second and third trimester of pregnancy, living in Kallar Syedan, a rural area of district Rawalpindi Pakistan, were included in the study. Depression was assessed using “Patient health questionnaire” (PHQ9) in Urdu, with a cut-off score of 10. Multi-dimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) was used to assess perceived social support. Life Events and Difficulties Schedule (LEDS) were used to measure stressful life events in past 1 year. Tool to assess intimate partner violence (IPV) was based on WHO Multi Country Study on “Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women.”</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Prevalence of prenatal depression was found to be 27%. Number of pregnancies was significantly associated with prenatal depression (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). Women living in a joint family and those who perceived themselves as moderately satisfied or not satisfied with their life in the next 4 years were found to be depressed (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01, OR 6.9, CI 1.77–26.73). Depressive symptomatology in women who experienced more than five stressful life events in last 1 year was three times higher (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001, OR 3.2, CI 1.68–5.98) than in women with 1–2 stressful events. Women who were supported by their significant others or their family members had 0.9 times (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01, OR 0.9, CI 0.85–0.96) less chance of getting depressed. Pregnant women who were psychologically abused by their partners were 1.5 times more depressed (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05 CI 1.12–2.51). Odds of having depression was also high in women who had less mean score of MSSI (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05, OR 1.1, CI 1.01–1.09). Women who had suitable accommodation had 0.5 times less chance of having depression than others (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05, OR 0.5, CI 0.27–0.92).</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Over a quarter of the women in the study population reported prenatal depression, which were predicted predominantly by psychosocial variables.</p>