Relationship between self-evaluation of child birth experience and early postpartum depression

Abstract

Purpose
Postpartum depression should be treated during the early postpartum. The objective of this study, therefore, is to identify the relationship between self-evaluation of child birth experience and early postpartum depression so that information needed to study postpartum psychological support is obtained.
Methods
The study was conducted between April and September 2000 on 1, 500 mothers 1 to 7 days postpartum. The method of the study was anonymous self-reporting questionnaire with response rate of 62.1%. The question items included self-evaluation of delivery experience, postpartum depression, gynecological, psychological and social factors affecting the self- evaluation.
Result
It was found that the subjects with lower self-evaluation tended to experience postpartum depression. The factors affecting the depression identified were “dissatisfaction with health care staffs”, “younger age at delivery” and “anxiety at delivery”. These factors were commonly observed among mothers irrespective of their history of delivery.
Conclusion
It was indicated that mothers tended to have postpartum depression when they were not satisfied with their experience of delivery. The tendency is identical irrespective of their history of delivery. Presence of trustful health care staffs and their support of anxiety during delivery increased satisfaction of mothers at delivery, contributing to prevention of postpartum depression.