Effect of respectful maternity care and effective communication during labor on postpartum depression: an interventional study

Abstract

Objective: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant public health issue and one of the most often observed psychological disorders among postpartum women. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of implementing respectful maternity care (RMC) and effective communication (EC) during labor and delivery on experiencing postpartum depression. Methods: One hundred twenty women were included in this trial; they were randomly assigned to two groups: the intervention and control groups. RMC and EC are provided to the intervention group, whereas the control group receives routine care. Six to eight weeks after delivery, postpartum depression was measured by the Kurdish version Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. Pearson Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney U, Likelihood Ratio and Fisher's Exact Test were used in this analysis. Results: Eighty percent of women in the intervention group had an Edinburgh Depression Score of less than ten, compared to fifty percent in the control group. In addition, significantly higher mean scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in controls than in the intervention group. However, there was no significant difference in PPD results between the intervention and control groups regarding delivery mode, pregnancy type, baby's gender, neonatal admission to the intensive care unit, and breastfeeding. Conclusions: The results suggest that implementing RMC and EC throughout labor and birth considerably reduces the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score. Thus, the study's findings have significant implications for the primary prevention of postpartum depression. Keywords: Childbirth, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Effective communication, Postpartum Depression, Respectful maternity care.