Prevalence of Antenatal Depressive Symptoms and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women in Maichew, North Ethiopia An Institution Based Study

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Tilahun Belete Mossie
Adam Kiros Sibhatu
Abate Dargie
Ashenafi Damte Ayele

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Antenatal depression is one of the commonproblems during pregnancy with a magnitude of 20% to 30%globally. It can negatively endanger women’s and off springs lives.As there are scarce reports on this area in Northern Ethiopia, it isimportant to carry out different studies that explore the magnitudeof the problem and related factors in rural areas. The aim of thisstudy is thus to assess the magnitude of antenatal depressivesymptoms and associated factors among women at Maichew Town,North Ethiopia.METHODS: A facility based cross sectional study was conductedamong 196 pregnant women from April to June 2015. Pregnantwomen who had antenatal care follow-ups at the public healthfacilities were included in the study. Through proportionalallocation to each facility, systematic random sampling techniquewas used to select the study participants. We used the locallanguage version of Beck Depression Inventory to assess depressivesymptoms with a cutoff point of 14 or more. Data was collected bytrained Psychiatric Nurses; data entry and analysis were processedby SPSS window 20. The level of significance was determinedusing odds ratio and 95% confidence interval.RESULT: About 16.3% of the participants had never given birthbefore, and 46.4% and 42.3% were in the third and secondtrimesters of pregnancy respectively. Unwanted pregnancy wasreported by 25.5% of the participants. Among those with previouspregnancy, 7.1% had previous obstetric complication. Themagnitude of depression was 31.1%. Pregnant women with lowlevel of income (AOR=3.66 (95%CI; 1.12, 11.96)), unmarried(AOR=4.07 (95% CI; 1.18, 14.04)) and house wives (AOR= 4.24(1.38, 13.03)) were risk groups for depression.CONCLUSION: Antenatal depression is a common problem; thusscreening activities of depression in antenatal care services shouldbe emphasized with more concern to unmarried women, those withlow level of income and house wives.

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Original Article
Author Biographies

Tilahun Belete Mossie, MekelleUniversity, Ethiopia

Psychiatry Unit, School of Nursing,
College of Health Sciences

Adam Kiros Sibhatu, MekelleUniversity, Ethiopia

Psychiatry Unit, School of Nursing,
College of Health Sciences

Abate Dargie, Debre Birhan,Ethiopia

College of Health Sciences, Debre
Birhan University

Ashenafi Damte Ayele, Debre Birhan,Ethiopia

College of Health Sciences, Debre
Birhan University