Prenatal Depressive Symptoms and Postpartum Sexual Risk Among Young Urban Women of Color

Factors influencing postpartum depression in Saudi women: a cross-sectional descriptive study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) and stress, as well as factors influencing PPD, among women in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

This study employed a cross-sectional online survey and recruited participants during postpartum visits to the Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Data collection was done using Arabic versions of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and a sociodemographics and obstetric history questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted, including multiple linear regression using a stepwise method.

RESULTS

Data from the 270 participants showed low levels of postpartum depressive symptoms with a mean score of 2.54±4.5 and low levels of perceived stress with a mean score of 2.49±6.2. While 94.4% of the participants reported low levels of stress and PPD, 5.6% reported elevated levels (≥10 for PPD, ≥14 for stress). The stepwise regression analysis showed significant results (p<.001), accounting for 34% of the variance in PPD. The factors significantly influencing PPD included the type of family, stress, number of abortions, disease during pregnancy, and family income. Importantly, perceived stress emerged as a factor influencing PPD.

CONCLUSION

Although the majority of participants exhibited low levels of PPD, about 1 in 18 showed elevated levels. The identification of significant influencing factors highlights the need for targeted interventions to effectively address mental health concerns in postpartum women.

Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms Are Associated With Emotional Eating but Not Nutritional Intake During Pregnancy: A Prospective Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Pregnancy is a major life event during which women may experience increased psychological distress and changes in eating behaviors. However, few studies have investigated the influence of psychological distress on pregnant women's eating behaviors. The primary objective of this prospective study was to examine the associations of changes in perceived stress and depressive symptoms with emotional eating and nutritional intake during pregnancy. In addition, we examined the direct and moderating effects of perceived social support.

METHODS

Participants were racially diverse pregnant women (14-42 years) from 4 clinical sites in Detroit, MI, and Nashville, TN (N = 678). We used multiple linear and logistic regression models to determine if changes in stress and depressive symptoms across pregnancy were associated with changes in emotional eating and nutritional intake. We examined residualized change in stress and depressive symptoms from second to third trimester of pregnancy; positive residualized change scores indicated increased stress and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Participants showed significant improvement in emotional eating and nutritional intake from second to third trimester of pregnancy (P < .001 for both). At second trimester, higher depressive symptoms were associated with a greater likelihood of emotional eating (P < .001) and worse nutritional intake (P = .044) at third trimester. Increased stress and depressive symptoms during pregnancy were both associated with increased risk, whereas increased perceived social support reduced risk of emotional eating at third trimester (stress: adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.17; 95% CI, 1.08-1.26; depressive symptoms: AOR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08; social support: AOR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88-0.99). None were associated with changes in nutritional intake. Perceived social support did not show any moderating effects.

DISCUSSION

Increased psychological distress during pregnancy may increase emotional eating. Efforts to promote healthy eating behaviors among pregnant women should consider and address mental health.

Psychosocial Factors Associated with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms One Year Postpartum

Pregnancy carries substantial risk for developing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs), with potential lifelong impacts on bladder health. Little is known about modifiable psychosocial factors that may influence the risk of postpartum LUTSs. We examined associations between depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and postpartum LUTSs, and the moderating effects of perceived social support, using data from a cohort study of Expect With Me group prenatal care (n = 462). One year postpartum, 40.3% participants reported one or more LUTS. The most frequent LUTS was daytime frequency (22.3%), followed by urinary incontinence (19.5%), urgency (18.0%), nocturia (15.6%), and bladder pain (6.9%). Higher odds of any LUTS were associated with greater depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.11) and perceived stress (AOR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04-1.19). Higher perceived social support was associated with lower odds of any LUTS (AOR 0.94, 95% CI 0.88-0.99). Perceived social support mitigated the adverse effects of depressive symptoms (interaction AOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98-0.99) and perceived stress (interaction AOR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99) on experiencing any LUTS. Greater depressive symptoms and perceived stress may increase the likelihood of experiencing LUTSs after childbirth. Efforts to promote bladder health among postpartum patients should consider psychological factors and social support.

Antenatal depression: Associations with birth and neonatal outcomes among women attending maternity care in Harare, Zimbabwe

INTRODUCTION

Antenatal depression is highly prevalent and is associated with negative birth and neonatal outcomes. However, the mechanisms and causality behind these associations remain poorly understood as they are varied. Given the variability in whether associations are present, there is need to have context-specific data to understand the complex factors that go into these associations. This study aimed to assess the associations between antenatal depression and birth and neonatal outcomes among women attending maternity care in Harare, Zimbabwe.

METHODS

We followed 354 pregnant women in second or third trimester, attending antenatal care services in two randomly selected clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe. Antenatal depression was assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Birth outcomes included birth weight, gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery, Apgar score, and initiation of breastfeeding within one-hour postdelivery. Neonatal outcomes at six weeks postdelivery included infant's weight, height, illness, feeding methods and maternal postnatal depressive symptoms. The association between antenatal depression and categorical and continuous outcomes were assessed by logistic regression and point-biserial correlation coefficient, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression determined the confounding effects on statistically significant outcomes.

RESULTS

Prevalence of antenatal depression was 23.7%. It was associated with low birthweight [AOR = 2.30 (95% CI: 1.08-4.90)], exclusive breastfeeding [AOR = 0.42 (95%CI: 0.25-0.73)] and postnatal depressive symptoms [AOR = 4.99 (95%CI: 2.81-8.85)], but not with any other birth or neonatal outcomes measured.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of antenatal depression in this sample is high with significant associations demonstrated for birth weight, maternal postnatal depressive symptoms and infant feeding methods Effective management of antenatal depression is thus crucial to the promotion of maternal and child health.

The effect of intra-vaginal oxytocin on sexual function in breastfeeding mothers: a randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Considering the importance of sexual function, high prevalence of sexual dysfunction (especially dyspareunia caused by atrophic vaginitis) in breastfeeding women, and lack of effective interventions, the present research aimed to determine the effect of oxytocin (OXT) vaginal gel on sexual function (primary outcome), sexual satisfaction, and depression (secondary outcomes) in the breastfeeding women.

METHODS

This randomized triple-blind controlled trial was conducted on 64 breastfeeding women who referred to health centers in the city of Tabriz, Iran, in 2020-21. Participants were equally assigned to intervention/control groups using block randomization. 200 IU of OXT vaginal gel was given to the participants in the intervention group daily for eight week and the same protocol was carried out for the control group with placebo. Standard questionnaires of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and Sexual satisfaction scale for women (SSSW) were completed at baseline and 8 weeks after intervention. ANCOVA test was used to compare post-intervention mean score of the groups, adjusted for the baseline values.

RESULTS

After intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of mean total score of FSFI (Adjusted Mean Difference (AMD): 1.14; 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI): -1.28 to 9.16; P= 0.349) and sexual satisfaction (AMD: 5.01; 95% CI: -0.53 to 10.56; P= 0.075). However, there was statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of mean scores of sexual contentment (AMD: 1.56; 95% CI: 0.29 to 2.83; P = 0.017) and depression (AMD: -1.90; 95% CI: -1.27 to -2.54; P < 0.001). One participant in the OXT group and one participant in the placebo group reported mild uterine contraction and one person in the placebo group reported vaginal burning sensations.

CONCLUSIONS

No evidence was found for the effects of OXT gel in the improvement of FSFI, even though, OXT significantly improved sexual satisfaction in the domain of contentment, and improved the symptoms of depression in comparison to the placebo group. However, a definite conclusion requires more research in this regard.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT), code: IRCT20120718010324N55 , Date of registration: 27/05/2020, URL: https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/44986/view .

Group prenatal care and improved birth outcomes: Results from a type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation study

To compare birth outcomes for patients receiving Expect With Me (EWM) group prenatal care or individual care only, we conducted a type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial (Detroit and Nashville, 2014-2016). Participants entered care <24 weeks gestation, had singleton pregnancy, and no prior preterm birth (N = 2402). Mean participant age was 27.1 (SD = 5.77); 49.5% were Black; 15.3% were Latina; 59.7% publicly insured. Average treatment effect of EWM compared to individual care only was estimated using augmented inverse probability weighting (AIPW). This doubly-robust analytic method produces estimates of causal association between treatment and outcome in the absence of randomization. AIPW was effective at creating equivalent groups for potential confounders. Compared to those receiving individual care only, EWM patients did significantly better on three of four primary outcomes: lower risk of infants born preterm (<37 weeks gestation; 6.4% vs. 15.1%, risk ratio (RR) 0.42, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.29, 0.54), low birthweight (<2500 g; 4.3% vs. 11.6%, RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.24, 0.49), and admission to NICU (9.4% vs. 14.6%, RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.49, 0.78). There was no difference in small for gestational age (<10% percentile of weight for gestational age). EWM patients attended a mean of 5.9 group visits (SD = 2.7); 70% attended ≥5 group visits. Post-hoc analyses indicated EWM patients utilizing the integrated information technology platform had lower risk for low birthweight infants (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.24, 0.86) than non-users. Future research is needed to understand mechanisms by which group prenatal care improves outcomes, best practices for implementation, and health systems savings. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.govNCT02169024.

Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Sexual Risk among Postpartum Women

Epidemiological evidence suggests that exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is associated with sexual risk, especially during adolescence, and with maternal and child health outcomes for women of reproductive age. However, no work has examined how ACE exposure relates to sexual risk for women during the postpartum period. In a convenience sample of 460 postpartum women, we used linear and logistic regression to investigate associations between ACE exposure (measured using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale) and five sexual risk outcomes of importance to maternal health: contraceptive use, efficacy of contraceptive method elected, condom use, rapid repeat pregnancy, and incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). On average, women in the sample were 25.55 years of age (standard deviation = 5.56); most identified as Black (60.4%), White (18%), or Latina (14.8%). Approximately 40% were exposed to adversity prior to age 18, with the modal number of experiences among those exposed as 1. Women exposed to ACEs were significantly less likely to use contraception; more likely to elect less-efficacious contraceptive methods; and used condoms less frequently (p = 0.041 to 0.008). ACE exposure was not associated with rapid repeat pregnancy or STI acquisition, p > 0.10. Screening for ACEs during pregnancy may be informative to target interventions to reduce risky sexual behavior during the postpartum period.

Social determinants of peripartum depressive symptoms among Black peripartum women living with HIV

HIV infection during pregnancy, may present risk of developing depression during pregnancy and postpartum. This psychiatric mood disorder, and many others such as anxiety and HIV-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been reported prevalent among pregnant and non-pregnant women living with HIV (WLWH). Multiple studies have found associations between social determinants of health and depressive symptoms in this population. However, despite deleterious effects on mother and child which may include suicidal ideations and infant death, only very few studies have examined this phenomenon for peripartum women, particularly Black women- a population prone to living in poor social and economic environments. Therefore, guided by the socio-ecologic model, this study examined predictors of peripartum depressive symptoms among Black peripartum WLWH. The study was a secondary data analysis of 143 Black women seen at special prenatal and women's health clinics in Miami, South Florida, USA. More than half of the women who experienced peripartum depressive symptoms (PDS) (n = 81, 57%) were of low socio-economic status. Low income was associated with increased odds of experiencing PDS. Women who endorsed intimate partner violence/abuse (IPV/A) were 6.5 times more likely to experience PDS; and compared to women with 1 or no childcare burden, women with 2 children-care burden were 4.6 times more likely to experience PDS. These findings demonstrate the negative impact of social factors on the psychological health of Black peripartum WLWH. Burdensome interpersonal relationships may have deleterious effects and trigger PDS among these women. Implications for nursing practice, education and research are also discussed.

The Effectiveness of Psycho-Educational and Cognitive-Behavioral Counseling on Female Sexual Dysfunction

INTRODUCTION

 Sexual function is a multidimensional phenomenon that is affected by many biological and psychological factors. Cognitive-behavioral sex therapies are among the most common nonpharmacological approaches to psychosexual problems. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of psychoeducational and cognitive-behavioral counseling on female sexual dysfunction.

METHODS

 The present study was a clinical trial with intervention and control groups. The study population consisted of women referring to the general clinic of a governmental hospital in Iran. After completing the demographic questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), those who obtained the cutoff score ≤ 28 were contacted and invited to participate in the study. Convenience sampling method was used and 35 subjects were randomly allocated for each group. Eight counseling sessions were held for the intervention group (two/week/1.5 hour). Post-test was taken from both groups after 1 month, and the results were statistically analyzed by PASW Statistics for Windows, Version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

RESULTS

 The total mean scores of FSFI and the subscales of sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group after the intervention. In addition, postintervention pain mean scores in the intervention group were significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

 The results of the present study indicate that psychoeducational cognitive-behavioral counseling is effective in improving female sexual function. It is recommended to compare the effects of psychoeducational cognitive-behavioral counseling on sexual dysfunctions of couples and with a larger sample size in future research.

Factors Influencing Couples' Sexuality in the Puerperium: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

The puerperium is a period of adaptation in which various transformations take place in the lives of women and men on their way to becoming mothers and fathers. These changes can also have repercussions on their sexual relations. How the couple deals with this transition is crucial to the well-being of the couple and affects how parents relate to the baby.

AIM

This study aimed to explore the factors that influence sexuality in both women and men during postpartum.

METHODS

We conducted a bibliographic review of 236 articles found on the PubMed database and published from 2008 to January 2019.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The main outcome measure was the impact of various physical, psychological, and sociocultural factors on couples' sexual functioning during postpartum.

RESULTS

The main problems that couples face after childbirth can be classified as (i) psychological changes, such as loss of a sense of self, transitioning to parenthood, taking on the new roles of mother and father, and feelings of abandonment among men; (ii) body changes in women that affect their self-image and perineal trauma; (iii) hormonal changes in women and men that can lead to reduced sexual desire in both and vaginal dryness or dyspareunia in women; (iv) changes in the marital relationship, including changes in each other's roles, taking time for intimacy, and initiating sexual intercourse; (v) sociocultural influences, such as social support, culturally expected roles, and beliefs regarding when to resume sex; and (vi) lifestyle changes, especially with regard to baby care.

CONCLUSION

Sexuality during postpartum is influenced by multiple factors: physical, psychological, and sociocultural. Our findings offer a deeper understanding of how the transition to parenthood affects sexual relationships during the postpartum period. Implications regarding caring for and promoting the sexual health of individuals and couples after childbirth are discussed, and some medical recommendations for parents are offered. Serrano Drozdowskyj E, Gimeno Castro E, Trigo López E, et al. Factors Influencing Couples' Sexuality in the Puerperium: A Systematic Review. Sex Med Rev 2020;8:38-47.

Factors associated with pregnant adolescents' access to sexual and reproductive health services in New York City

OBJECTIVE

This longitudinal study examined access to, and factors associated with, receipt of sexual and reproductive health services deemed essential by the World Health Organization among pregnant adolescents in New York City.

METHODS

Participants included 649 pregnant adolescents, ages 14-21 who were enrolled in a clustered randomized controlled trial from 2008 to 2012. Data were collected via medical record abstraction and structured surveys during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and 12-months postpartum. We used multivariable logistic regression to test associations between measures of social and economic vulnerability (age, race/ethnicity, immigration status, food and housing security, relationship status, perceived discrimination) and access to core sexual and reproductive health services (perinatal care, contraception, HIV testing, sexual health knowledge).

RESULTS

Only 4% of participants received all four core aspects of sexual and reproductive health assessed. Adolescents <18 years old had lower odds of contraception use (OR = 0.46, CI 0.27-0.78), having had an HIV test (OR = 0.35, CI 0.16-0.78), and high sexual health knowledge (OR = 0. 59, CI 0.37-0.95), compared to those ≥18 years. Black women were significantly more likely to have high sexual health knowledge compared to other women (OR = 1.84, CI 1.05, 3.22). Immigrants had higher odds of adequate perinatal care (OR = 1.60, CI 1.09-2.36) and contraception use (OR = 1.64, CI 1.07-2.53), but lower likelihood of high sexual health knowledge (OR = 0.52, CI 0.34-0.81), compared to US-born counterparts. Food insecurity was associated with lower likelihood of comprehensive perinatal care (OR = 0.63, CI 0.45-0.90).

CONCLUSIONS

Access to sexual and reproductive health services in New York City is poor among vulnerable adolescents. Health practice and policy should assure access to fundamental sexual and reproductive health services among vulnerable populations in the United States.

Sexual risk behaviour among HIV-infected women in the first twelve months after delivery in South Africa

This study aimed to assess sexual risk behaviour and its social correlates in HIV-infected women living in rural South Africa at six and twelve months post-partum. Participants were 699 HIV-positive women recruited prenatally by systematic sampling from twelve community health centres in Mpumalanga province, South Africa (mean age = 28.4 years, SD = 5.7; married =41.1%; serodiscordant or unknown partner status = 74.9%). They self-reported on their sexual activity six to twelve months after delivery; including use of condoms and partner involvement. Generalised linear mixed models were utilised to estimate unsafe sex outcomes from a prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) intervention, socio-demographic factors, disclosure, and male involvement. About 20% of sexually active women in the past week had used condoms inconsistently at six and twelve months after delivery. Moreover, 16% and 18% of the women had not used a condom at last sex and 11% and 13% had unprotected sex with HIV-uninfected or unknown-status partners following delivery at six and twelve months, respectively. Higher inconsistent condom use was likely with lower male involvement. Promotion of condom use post-partum, as well as male involvement in sexual decisions, are important for safer sex post-partum by seropositive women.

Postpartum Depressive Symptoms: Gestational Weight Gain as a Risk Factor for Adolescents Who Are Overweight or Obese

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a risk factor for adverse physical health outcomes during pregnancy. Much less is known about the association between obesity and maternal mental health. Evidence suggests that prenatal depression is associated with excessive weight gain during pregnancy and that this relationship may vary according to pregravid body mass index (BMI). Young women may be particularly vulnerable to postpartum depression. The objective of this study is to examine the association between prepregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain, and postpartum depressive symptoms among adolescents.

METHODS

Participants were 505 pregnant adolescents aged 14 to 21 years followed during pregnancy and 6 months postpartum. Data were collected via interviews and medical record abstraction. Multilevel linear mixed models were used to test the association between excessive gestational weight gain as defined by National Academy of Medicine Guidelines and postpartum depressive symptoms measured via the validated Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. Analyses controlled for sociodemographic factors (maternal age, race, ethnicity, relationship status), health behaviors (nutrition, physical activity), prenatal depressive symptoms, and postpartum weight retention.

RESULTS

Prepregnancy BMI was classified as follows: 11% underweight, 53% healthy weight, 19% overweight, and 18% obese. One-half (50%) of participants exceeded recommended guidelines for gestational weight gain. Adolescents with excessive gestational weight gain who entered pregnancy overweight or obese had significantly higher postpartum depressive symptoms (β, 2.41; SE, 1.06 vs β, 2.58; SE, 1.08, respectively; both P < .05) compared with those with healthy prepregnancy BMI and appropriate gestational weight gain. Adolescents who gained gestational weight within clinically recommended guidelines were not at risk for increased depressive symptoms.

DISCUSSION

Adolescents who enter pregnancy overweight or obese and experience excessive weight gain may be at increased risk for postpartum depressive symptoms. Health care providers should offer preventive interventions during pregnancy and the interconceptional period to support healthy weight gain and safeguard women's mental health.

Depressive symptoms and gestational length among pregnant adolescents: Cluster randomized control trial of CenteringPregnancy® plus group prenatal care

OBJECTIVES

Depressive symptoms are associated with preterm birth among adults. Pregnant adolescents have high rates of depressive symptoms and low rates of treatment; however, few interventions have targeted this vulnerable group. Objectives are to: (a) examine impact of CenteringPregnancy® Plus group prenatal care on perinatal depressive symptoms compared to individual prenatal care; and (b) determine effects of depressive symptoms on gestational age and preterm birth among pregnant adolescents.

METHOD

This cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in 14 community health centers and hospitals in New York City. Clinical sites were randomized to receive standard individual prenatal care (n = 7) or CenteringPregnancy® Plus group prenatal care (n = 7). Pregnant adolescents (ages 14-21, N = 1,135) completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale during pregnancy (second and third trimesters) and postpartum (6 and 12 months). Gestational age was obtained from medical records, based on ultrasound dating. Intention to treat analyses were used to examine objectives.

RESULTS

Adolescents at clinical sites randomized to CenteringPregnancy® Plus experienced greater reductions in perinatal depressive symptoms compared to those at clinical sites randomized to individual care (p = .003). Increased depressive symptoms from second to third pregnancy trimester were associated with shorter gestational age at delivery and preterm birth (<37 weeks gestation). Third trimester depressive symptoms were also associated with shorter gestational age and preterm birth. All p < .05.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnant adolescents should be screened for depressive symptoms prior to third trimester. Group prenatal care may be an effective nonpharmacological option for reducing depressive symptoms among perinatal adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record