Relationship between the Noto-Peninsula earthquake and maternal postnatal depression and child-rearing

Abstract

Objective The aim of our study was to explore the relationship between a medium-scale earthquake and maternal depression and child-rearing in a depopulated community in the Noto Peninsula of Japan. Methods Three months after a major earthquake, selfrating questionnaires were distributed to women who were pregnant at the time of the earthquake or who became pregnant immediately thereafter, and who were receiving care at any of four major hospitals in the most devastated area. A total of 155 women who had given birth returned the completed questionnaire for analysis. Maternal postnatal depression among the participants was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Results The EPDS score was significantly associated with decreased satisfaction with delivery (β = -0.28, p = 0.01), increased artificial lactation (β = 0.31, p = 0.002), and increased trouble with infant care (β = 0.47, p<0.001) in multivariate analysis. It was also significantly associated with increased anxiety about earthquakes (β = 0.30, p = 0.001), and anxiety about earthquakes was significantly associated with increased fear of the earthquake (β = 0.20, p = 0.04). Conclusions Earthquake-related factors such as anxiety about earthquakes and fear of the earthquake did not have a direct effect on child-rearing factors; however, they did have a significant relationship with increased EPDS. Based on these results, we conclude that screening strategies for maternal depression in peri- and postnatal women under emergency circumstances are necessary. © 2009 The Japanese Society for Hygiene.