ABSTRACT
Objective: Alexithymia is a personality construct characterized by the subclinical inability to identify and describe emotions in the self. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of alexithymia, among pregnant women and to assess the relationship between depression and alexithymia, as well as its sub scales with depression in the respondents. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) to determine respondents with alexithymia. Depression scores among respondents were measured using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-short version 13 items. Results: A total of 390 pregnant women completed the self-report questionnaires. The prevalence of alexithymia was found to be 27.9%. Two hundred-one of the total 390 pregnant women were diagnosed with depression; 23.3% were classified as mild, 24.6% as moderate, and 3.6% as severe depression respectively. The alexithymia was found to have correlation with depression (r=0.148, P=0.032). A correlation was also found between depression and sub scales' scores, difficulty in identifying feelings, DIF (r= 0.374, P= 0.0001) and difficulty in describing feelings, DDF (r= 0.204, P= 0.0001). There was no significant correlation in an externally oriented thinking (EOT) and depression in pregnant female participants. After adjusting for possible confounding variables, women with alexithymia had a 2.67 increased risk of suffering from depression compared to women who did not have alexithymia. Conclusions: This study shows a high prevalence of alexithymia in pregnant women in a community in Babol, Iran. The alexithymic women had more accentuated signs of depression than non-alexithymic women during the prenatal period. Therefore, it is important to screen pregnant women for an alexithymia, and include the mentioned education in pregnancy counseling classes in the private and public institutions
ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to analyze whether or not parity influenced the prevalence of obesity in both pre- and postmenopausal women. A cross-sectional study was conducted on characteristics of urban women regarding parity. A total of 1,620 women aged 45-63 years were selected using cluster sampling. A face-to-face household interview was conducted by trained, skillful personnel. A risk factor questionnaire was used to obtain information on reproductive history and sociodemographic factors. Statistical associations between parity and obesity using logistic regression were then investigated. The mean BMI was 29.1 +/- 5.1, and 96.8% of the sample population were parous, with a median of 4 births. Of the total women enrolled, 216 [13.3%] had <3 parities, while 1,404 [86.7%] had >/=3 parities. The prevalence of obesity [BMI >/=30] was 38.3%, diagnosed at a mean age of 51.4 +/- 5.2 years. After adjustment for a range of potential confounders [age, marital status, employment, education, smoking status, abortion history, savings situation and menopausal status], women with >/=3 parities were at higher risk of being obese [OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.24-2.45; p = 0.001]. A positive association was observed between the number of parities and obesity. The findings of this study suggest that the BMI is associated with high parity in Babolian women. Health policymakers should work with health providers to develop appropriate postpartum weight loss interventions