OBSTETRIC AND SOCIAL PROFILE FOR SCREENING PATIENTS WITH HIGH SCORE FOR POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

Abstract

Postpartum depression is defined as major depression that does not have psychotic characteristics. It starts in the first weeks after childbirth and can last up to a year. The occurrence is associated with deficiencies in the child's cognitive and social development, in addition to cause damage to women's health and marital problems. It has a high incidence, although it isn't diagnosed earlier, what makes difficult the correct treatment. The present study sought to determine the presence of an obstetric and social profile of greater risk for developing a disease, facilitating early diagnosis. Twenty-one postpartum women completed a social and obstetric questionnaire along with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale during a home visit. Postpartum women with a score greater than or equal to twelve were considered at high risk. The factors that were most associated with high risk were: the largest number of children, the occurrence of an abortion, low socioeconomic status, personal and family history of psychiatric illness, gestational complications, feeling of not having support during pregnancy and postpartum and not having help to care for the child.