Perinatal mental health in chilean mothers

Abstract

Pregnancy and postpartum are periods of increased vulnerability for the development of maternal mental health disorders, that have a negative impact on maternal-infant interaction and health. Most studies have focused on depression, with anxiety being less studied, despite its high prevalence. Ob-jectives: to evaluate the prevalence of positive screening for anxiety and depressive symptoms in a sample of women seen in public primary health centers in Chile, and the association of these symptoms with specific risk factors. Subjects and Method: 158 women completed self-report questionnai-res (Edinburgh Scale and Perinatal Anxiety Scale) during the third trimester of gestation and at 3 and 6 months postpartum. The prevalence and evolution of symptoms were analyzed, as well as possible differences in mental health associated with sociodemographic variables. Results: During the perinatal period, there was a prevalence between 41.3% and 44.3% of elevated anxiety symptoms and 13.9% to 20.9% for elevated symptoms of depression at 3 and 6 months, respectively. The study highlights the associations between perceived support, maternal educational level, and history of spontaneous abortion with maternal mental health during the transition to motherhood. Conclusions: Maternal perinatal symptoms of anxiety and depression are prevalent. Initiatives to identify women at risk and to promote protective factors, such as social support, are necessary to increase the well-being of women and their families.