Negative Effects and Factors Associated with Postpartum Depression on both Vaginal and Cesarean Delivery Groups

Background and objectives: Postpartum depression is highly prevalent and a broad range of causes including types of delivery are introduced as its source.  This study aimed to investigate the relationship between types of delivery and the prevalence of postpartum depression. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the maternity ward of Sina hospital, Mashhad, in 2014.  To this end, 300 women referring to delivery ward were selected through convenient sampling and examined 4 times (immediately after childbirth, 4 weeks after the first assessment, 6 weeks after the second assessment, and 8 weeks after the third assessment) using a demographic questionnaire and Beck’s Depression Inventory. In this regard, the first assessment was conducted in person and other assessments were conducted by researcher through making phone calls. Those mothers taking psychiatric medication, having children with serious physical health problem, and having obtained a score above 14 for the first assessment based on the Beck’s Depression Inventory as well as those for whom it was not possible to making phone calls were excluded from the study. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software and the confidence level was set at .05. Findings: There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of education, occupation, economic status, being satisfied with their husbands’ support and family and planned and unplanned pregnancy. The prevalence of depression was 10.3 percent two weeks after childbirth and it was 13 percent for mothers during the 8th weeks after childbirth. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: The postpartum depression of high prevalence; therefore, adjusting each of the relevant factors is useful for reducing the incidence of depression.