Postpartum depression: a prospective observational cross-sectional study

Background: To determine the prevalence of postpartum depression in the puerperium and offer referrals to counsellor/mental health practitioner for at risk patientsMethods: Sample size was 214 patients and duration of study was 1 year, it included all deliveries at HN reliance foundation hospital. It excluded women with pre-existing mental health problems or neurological disease on medications and those who declined participation. On day 7 and day 42 post-delivery the women were phoned and asked questions from the Edinburg postnatal depression scale which is a validated questionnaire. Interpretation used was; EPDS ?13 or saying yes to question no 10, with depression and EPDS <13 without depression. Those identified with depression were appropriately referred.Results: Patient identified to be depressed were more likely to have perceived complications during delivery (p=0.02), problems with lactation (p=0.035), hospital stay of more than four days (p=0.002). There was no statistical association with help available and place where the mother stayed post-discharge.Conclusions: Out of 213 study participants, 32 study participants (15.02 percent) had post-partum depression. This was prevalent among those that felt their delivery was complicated, those with lactation difficulties and those with hospital stay of more than 4 days. The prevalence of post-partum depression at our hospital was significantly high to institute routine use of EPDS for new mothers.

Endometritis puerperal en nuestro medio / Postpartum endometritis incidence and risk factors

la infección genital postparto causa importante morbimortalidad. Se realizó un estudio de cohortes prospectivo observacional, que incluyó pacientes con parto vaginal o abdominal desde 19/04/2010 hasta 19/07/2010, para determinar la incidencia de endometritis y delimitar la población en riesgo. Se definió endometritis con al menos 2 de los siguientes: temperatura >38ºC, dolor uterino, dolor abdominal, loquios fétidos o ecografía patológica, sin otra causa de infección. Se registraron 1.472 partos. La inicidencia global de endometritis fue 2,5% (IC95%: 1,7-3,3); en partos vaginales 1,4% (IC95%: 0,7 - 2,1) y abdominales 4,8% (IC95%: 2,9-6,8). la diferencia fue estadísticamente significativa (p<0,001). En el análisis multivariado los factores de riesgo independientemente asociados fueron edad menor a 20 años y parto abdominal. Se descartó colinealidad entre ambas variables. Parto abdominal fue el único factor modificable. En este sentido deberían dirigirse las medidas de prevención y vigilancia.

Postpartum infection is cause of morbidity and mortality. To determine the incidence of postpartum endometritis and define the population at risk we performed a prospective observational study that included all the patients admitted for delivery to the Maternity service between 19/04/2010 and 19/07/2010. Endometritis was defined by at least two of the sequent: temperature >38ºC, uterine and lower abdominal pain, abnormal vaginal or cervical discharge or transvaginal ultrasound pathological findings. We registered 1,472 deliveries. Global incidence of postpartum endometritis was 2.5 % (95% Cl: 1.7-3.3); for spontaneous labor it was 1.4% (95% Cl:-2.1) and for cesarean deliveries 4.8% (95 %CL: 2.9-6.8) and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Independent risk factors were age of 20 years or less and cesrean delivery. There was no colineality between both variables. Cesarean delivery was found the only modifiable risk factor for endometritis.

Consequences of Maternal Complications in Women’s Lives in the First Postpartum Year: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Maternal complications are common during and following childbirth. However, little information is available on the psychological, social and economic consequences of maternal complications on women’s lives, especially in a rural setting. A prospective cohort study was conducted in southern Rajasthan, India, among rural women who had a severe or less-severe, or no complication at the time of delivery or in the immediate postpartum period. In total, 1,542 women, representing 93% of all women who delivered in the field area over a 15-month period and were examined in the first week postpartum by nurse-midwives, were followed up to 12 months to record maternal and child survival. Of them, a subset of 430 women was followed up at 6-8 weeks and 12 months to capture data on the physical, psychological, social, or economic consequences. Women with severe maternal complications around the time of delivery and in the immediate postpartum period experienced an increased risk of mortality and morbidity in the first postpartum year: 2.8% of the women with severe complications died within one year compared to none with uncomplicated delivery. Women with severe complications also had higher rates of perinatal mortality [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=3.98, confidence interval (CI) 1.96-8.1, p=0.000] and mortality of babies aged eight days to 12 months (AOR=3.14, CI 1.4-7.06, p=0.004). Compared to women in the uncomplicated group, women with severe complications were at a higher risk of depression at eight weeks and 12 months with perceived physical symptoms, had a greater difficulty in completing daily household work, and had important financial repercussions. The results suggest that women with severe complications at the time of delivery need to be provided regular follow-up services for their physical and psychological problems till about 12 months after childbirth. They also might benefit from financial support during several months in the postpartum period to prevent severe economic consequences. Further research is needed to identify an effective package of services for women in the first year after delivery.