Investigating postpartum depression, distress, and post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth in adolescent mothers refering to the medical health centres in Tabriz, and their relationship with exclusive breastfeeding.

Abstract

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Teenage pregnancy is a serious health problem with social consequences all around the world, which has been defined as pregnancy in women between the age of 10 to 19 years old. Pregnancy at this age can have considerable negative effects on the individual, the society, and the economy, and may cause health consequences. Adolescent mothers do face the risk of having more mental problems due to their postpartum period, state of growth, and development. The purpose of the current study is to investigate postpartum depression, distress, and post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth in adolescent mothers refering to the medical health centres in Tabriz, and their relationship with exclusive breastfeeding. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted on 167 teenage newmothers of the age of 10 to 19 in Tabriz city who had given birth. The sampling was conducted through the total population sampling method. For each participant, in order to investigate post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth the PCL-5 questionnaire, for investigating postpartum depression the EPDS questionnaire, and for investigating postpartum distress the PDM questionnaire, was completed 8 weeks after delivery. RESULTS: This study was conducted from (September 2021) until (August 2022). The mean (standard deviation) age of the participants was 18.09 (0.98) years. The results showed that 12.6% (21 people) of the participants had severe depression, 7.2% (12 people) had PTSD after delivery, and 68.9% of the mothers had exclusive breastfeeding. The Logistic regression test was used to determine the predictors of postpartum depression, post-traumatic stress disorder following delivery, and exclusive breastfeeding. The results showed that insufficient income (OR=4.32, P=0.015) and depression history (OR=8.33, P=0.049) variables were the predictors of postpartum depression, and unwanted pregnancy (OR=9.39, P=0.008) =), lack of support from the spouse (OR = 10.31, P = 0.006), insufficient income (OR = 0.77, P = 0.07), and infant restlessness variables are predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth. The Linear regression test was used to determine the predictors of postpartum distress. The results showed that the variables like the number of children (B=1.17, P=0.020), lack of satisfaction with married life (B=2.2, P=0.001), and depression history before pregnancy (B=1.1, P=0.013), were including the risk factors associated with postpartum distress. CONCLUSION: identifying mothers with depression history and setting the correct and optimal diagnosic and screening systems in preconcertion period and pregnancy care by health care providers, is very important. They can identify modifiable risk factors and may improve the mental health of adolescent mothers. Moreover, due to the lifelong benefits of breast milk on the health of the mother and child, by promoting education about the appropriate age of childbirth, the benefits of natural childbirth, and identifying mothers with a history of depression, we can increase exclusive breastfeeding, improve the health of the mother and child, and impose fewer costs on the family and society.