Factors associated to depressive symptoms in mothers with children hospitalized in pediatric and neonatology units of Peru: a case-control study

Abstract

Introduction Postpartum depression has increased significantly worldwide, but in the central Peruvian mountain, there are no studies that address this problem. Objectives To identify and to establish risk factors for postpartum depression in mothers whose children are hospitalized in pediatrics/neonatology units in Huancayo. Methods This is a case-control study. Medical records of mothers whose children were hospitalized in pediatrics/neonatology units during 2017 were included. The cases were defined as patients who “had symptoms of postpartum depression." This variable was crossed with other variables using logistical regression, odds ratio were obtained, their confidence intervals were set to 95%, and the p values were calculated. Results Sixty-one medical records of mothers with postpartum depression (cases) and 61 medical records of mothers without postpartum depression (control) were evaluated. In the multivariate analysis, the unemployed mothers had a bigger chance of postpartum depression (p < 0.001), as well as single mothers (p < 0.001), and those with an unplanned pregnancy (p = 0.003). Conversely, mothers who reported having serious problems with their partner had a smaller chance of postpartum depression (p = 0.003). Conclusions Different factors were found to be related to postpartum depression: marital situation, relationship with their partners, work conditions, and having an unplanned pregnancy.