Influence of parental competence on postpartum depression mediated via negative thoughts: moderating role of type of delivery

The present study intended to explore and compare the mediating role of negative thoughts between the sense of parental competence and postpartum depression in postpartum mothers who gave birth to their baby either through vaginal or cesarean delivery. A purposive sample of 170 women suffering from postpartum depression was recruited from different hospitals in Gujrat, Pakistan. Urdu versions of the Parenting Sense of Competency Scale, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were used to measure the focal constructs of the study. Data were collected from May 2018 to October 2018. Path analysis revealed that parental competence had negative direct effects on postpartum depression (β = -.17, p < .05) and negative thoughts (β = -.27, p < .05) and both of these effects were stronger for women with cesarean delivery (Δβ = .04, p < .001; Δβ = .36, p < .001, respectively). Negative thoughts had a positive direct effect on postpartum depression (β = .43, p < .05) and this direct effect was also stronger among women with cesarean delivery (Δβ = -.12, p < .001). Furthermore, parental competence reduced the negative thoughts, which in turn, lowered the postpartum depression (β = -.12, p < .05), however, this indirect effect was true only for the group of women with cesarean delivery (Δβ = .20, p < .05). Our findings indicate the powerful role of parental competence in reducing the likelihood of postpartum depression through the regulation of negative thoughts and highlight that cesarean delivery may increase mothers' vulnerability to negative thoughts and postpartum depression.

The prevalence of peripartum depression and its relationship to mode of delivery and other factors among mothers in Ixopo, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Peripartum depression is a common mental health condition among mothers, occurring between 4 and 6 weeks post-delivery. This study sought to evaluate the influence that mode of delivery and other related factors have on the development of peripartum depression. The study was carried out in Ixopo, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. All women whose infants had been delivered within 4–6 weeks of the study were included until the sample size of 276 was reached. A demographic questionnaire and an Edinburgh postnatal depression scale were administered. Mothers with Edinburgh postnatal depression scale scores of ⩾10 were considered to be suffering from peripartum depression, and peripartum depression was ruled out in those with a score of <10. A total of 110 mothers had Edinburgh postnatal depression scale score ⩾10, thus presenting a prevalence of 39.9%. Of these, 51 (46.4%) had undergone normal vaginal delivery and 59 had a Caesarean section (53.6%). Of the latter group, 23 had elective Caesarean section and 36 had emergency Caesarean section. Logistic regression showed no significant association between peripartum depression and mode of delivery ( p = .074); women who had delivered their child by emergency Caesarean section were three times more likely to develop peripartum depression compared to those who had delivered via normal vaginal delivery (odds ratio: 2.733, confidence interval: 1.002–7.452). Unemployment was found to have a statistically significant association with peripartum depression ( p = .003) and single motherhood was not associated ( p = .425). Emergency Caesarean sections and unemployment were shown to be risk factors for peripartum depression.

Prevalence of postpartum depression regarding mode of delivery: a cross-sectional study

Purpose: To explore the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD), as well as the relationship between delivery mode and postpartum depression among postnatal women utilizing the Arabic validated version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).Materials and methods: 412 women with singleton gestation during their 3rd trimester without medical or psychological problems preceding or during pregnancy were included. All pregnant women were asked to fill out the Arabic version of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Only women with EPDS score <13 during pregnancy were allowed to complete the study. 370 women were asked to repeat the EPDS at 8 and 16 weeks postnatal. The patients were divided into three groups according to their delivery mode; normal vaginal delivery, emergency or elective caesarian section.Results: Prevalence of postpartum depression was found to be significantly higher in emergency caesarian section group at the 8th and 16th postnatal weeks (25% and 19%, respectively) when compared to elective caesarian section group (21% and 13%, respectively) or normal vaginal delivery group (7% and 1.7%, respectively). The mean score of the EPDS in the normal vaginal delivery group at both assessments was significantly lower than those of the emergency and elective caesarian section groups.Conclusions: There was a strong relation between delivery mode and postpartum depression. Emergency CS showed a stronger correlation than elective caesarian section.