Investigation of social support perceptions and mental health of postpartum women following the February 6, 2023 Turkey earthquake: a comparative study

Abstract

Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, have significant psychological consequences, particularly for vulnerable populations like postpartum women. This study aimed to determine the relationship between perceived social support and mental health among postpartum women who had experienced an earthquake. In this comparative cross-sectional study, the case group (n = 62) consisted of women who were in their third trimester at the time of the earthquake and gave birth after the disaster, while the control group (n = 62) comprised women who were also in their third trimester during the earthquake and had given birth but were not residing in the earthquake-affected region and had no prior experience of an earthquake. The study did not include individuals with intellectual disabilities, illiteracy. Data were collected using the Sociodemographic data form, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). The incidence rates of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (40.3%) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (43.5%) in postpartum women who experienced the earthquake were significantly higher than those in women who did not (Posttraumatic stress disorder: 6.5%, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: 16.1%) (p