Evaluation of the relationship between domestic violence in pregnancy and postnatal depression

ABSTRACT

Domestic violence against women is now widely recognized as an important public health problem. Research works are necessary to clarify the relationship between the different forms of domestic violence and mental health outcomes, especially in the developing countries where relatively little research is available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between domestic violence in pregnancy and postnatal depression in pregnant women referring to the health care centers in Marivan, in 1386. This study was a prospective cohort study. Sample size included 251 women at the last month of pregnancy who were questioned about domestic violence during pregnancy and assigned into 2 groups abused and non-abused groups. Each group included 120 patients. 11 patients were lost to follow up. Then the subjects filled out the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale questionnaire within 4-6 weeks after delivery. P<0/05 considered statistically significant. The mean age of the subjects was 26.02 +/- 5.53 years and most of them had elementary education. The prevalence rate of depression among the patients was 34.2%.%15.8 of the women in the abused group and%52.5 of the women in the non-abused group had scores of more than 10 on the basis of Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale. There was a significant relationship between domestic violence and postnatal depression [p<0.001]. The relative risk of depression RR=3.3 with a confidenc interval of 95% was between 2.1 and 5.1. Since the detrimental impacts of domestic violence during pregnancy have been clarified in this research and other studies, it is recommended to screen such cases routinely in order to recognize abused cases for counseling