Depressive symptoms in postpartum women at Family Health Units

this is a cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach carried out in FHUs at the city of Vitoria de Santo Antão - PE. Fifty eight mothers constituted the sample. We used the Portuguese version of the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale – PDSS for screening. We collected data from February to April 2011.

Results:

we were able to demonstrate that 8.6% of participants had scores above the PDSS cut-off point. We also found an association between postpartum depression and incomplete primary education.

Conclusions:

although the percentage of women with postpartum depression scores is lower than values found in other national studies, the early identification of these mothers in FHU is imperative, given the harmful repercussions that depression can cause in women, as well as in physical and psychic development of the baby.

Key words
Postpartum depression; Mental health; Postpartum period

PDSS Dimensions/ Depressive Symptoms	SD		D		NDNA		A		SA
PDSS Dimensions/ Depressive Symptoms	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
Dimension: Sleeping/Eating disturbances
Difficulty to sleep	18	31.0	19	32.8	0	0.0	15	25.9	6	10.3
Loss of apetite	23	39.7	16	27.6	1	1.7	12	20.7	6	10.3
To wake up in the middle of the night and have difficulty to fall back asleep	19	32.8	20	34.5	1	1.7	14	24.1	4	6.9
Difficulty to fall asleep	24	41.4	19	32.8	2	3.4	11	19.0	2	3.4
Difficulty to eat even knowing it was necessary	26	44.8	15	25.9	1	1.7	11	19.0	5	8.6
Dimension: Anxiety/Insecurity
Feeling of loneliness	21	36.2	25	43.1	0	0.0	8	13.8	4	6.9
Feeling of oppression	26	44.8	20	34.5	1	1.7	10	17.2	1	1.7
Feeling scared	19	32.8	22	37.9	1	1.7	14	24.1	2	3.4
Anxiety with the smallest things related to the baby	13	22.4	9	15.5	1	1.7	29	50.0	6	10.3
Restlessness	15	25.9	29	50.0	1	1.7	10	17.2	3	5.2
Dimension: Emotional lability
Cry without an apparent reason	24	41.4	15	25.9	1	1.7	12	20.7	5	10.3
Fear to not be happy again	29	50.0	20	34.5	3	5.2	4	6.9	2	3.4
Mood swings	21	36.2	12	20.7	3	5.2	17	29.3	5	8.6
Irritation	14	24.1	18	31.0	1	1.7	21	36.2	4	6.9
Anger at an explosion level	26	44.8	21	36.2	1	1.7	5	8.6	5	8.6
Dimension: Cognitive impairment
Lack of concentration	20	34.5	22	37.9	3	5.2	12	20.7	1	1.7
Feeling of losing reason	34	58.6	19	32.8	1	1.7	4	6.9	0	0.0
Feeling of becoming crazy	26	44.8	22	37.9	2	3.4	7	12.1	1	1.7
Difficulty to make simple decisions	25	43.1	24	41.4	1	1.7	7	12.1	1	1.7
Difficulty to concentrate in a task	19	32.8	21	36.2	2	3.4	10	17.2	6	10.3
Dimension: Loss of self
Impaired self-perception	34	58.6	21	36.2	0	0.0	2	3.4	1	1.7
Feeling of becoming a stranger to myself	29	50.0	23	39.7	1	1.7	4	6.9	1	1.7
Fear of not coming back to be who I was before	14	24.1	23	39.7	3	5.2	13	22.4	5	8.6
Feeling abnormal	30	51.7	20	34.5	2	3.4	5	8.6	1	1.7
Feeling of nihilism	30	51.7	21	36.2	1	1.7	4	6.9	2	3.4
Dimension: Guilt/Shame
Feeling failure as a mother	33	56.9	17	29.3	1	1.7	6	10.3	1	1.7
Feeling that other mothers are better than me	27	46.6	22	37.9	0	0.0	6	10.3	3	5.2
Feeling guilt for not loving my baby as I should	29	50.0	21	36.2	1	1.7	3	5.2	4	6.9
Feeling shame of thoughts and feelings related to the baby	24	41.4	20	34.5	3	5.2	7	12.1	4	6.9
Feeling worthlessness as a mother	29	50.0	22	37.9	1	1.7	4	6.9	2	3.4
Dimension: Contemplating harming oneselfs
Thought that life would be better if I was dead	41	70.7	13	22.4	0	0.0	1	1.7	3	5.2
Thought that death is the only alternative for the situation	38	65.5	18	31.0	0	0.0	1	1.7	1	1.7
Desire of self-directed violence	40	69.0	16	27.6	0	0.0	1	1.7	1	1.7
Feeling that the baby would be better without me	37	63.8	19	32.8	1	1.7	0	0.0	1	1.7
Desire to disappear	30	51.7	17	29.3	0	0.0	8	13.8	3	5.2

Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira Rua dos Coelhos, 300. Boa Vista, 50070-550 Recife PE Brasil, Tel./Fax: +55 81 2122-4141 - Recife - PR - Brazil
E-mail: revista@imip.org.br

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[TFN1] PDSS= Postpartum Depression Screening Scale; SD= Strongly disagree; D= Disagree; NDNA= Neither disagree nor agree; A= Agree; AS= Strongly agree.