Year: 2024 | Month: April-June | Volume: 9 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 112-118
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/gijhsr.20240215
Predictors of Psychological Health among the Postnatal Mothers
Hiral Panchal1, Dr. Rani Shetty2
1PhD Scholar, 2Principal,
Maniba Bhula Nursing College, Uka Tarsadia University, Bardoli, Surat, Gujarat, India
Corresponding Author: Hiral Panchal
ABSTRACT
Background: Postpartum is a period of remarkable transition in the life of women with multiple challenges associated with assuming the role of a mother, thus making her vulnerable to psychological distress. Maternal anxiety and maternal depression are the most common complications of childbirth, impacting up to 1 in 5 women. About 22 percent of Indian mothers suffer from postpartum depression (PPD) which was recently reported by WHO.
Objectives: This study was aimed to assess psychological health among the postnatal mothers and their association with the predictors.
Methods: Quantitative- prospective survey method was adopted for this study. The data was collected from 302 postnatal mothers recruited through purposive sampling at Shree Sardar Smarak Hospital, Bardoli, Gujarat. Data were collected from mothers using Maternal Postpartum Stress Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to identify the psychological health and an inventory checklist to identify the predictors of psychological health.
Results: Majority 249 (82.5%) of postnatal mothers were in the age group 21-25 years, 137 (45.4%) had secondary education, 295 (97.7%) were homemakers, 284 (94%) belonged to joint family, 177 (58.6%) were primi, 266 (88.1%) had 38-40 weeks of gestation at the time of delivery, 158 (52.3%) had normal vaginal delivery, 169 (56%) of babies weighed between 1.5-2.5 kg, 245 (81.1%) of babies were on exclusive breast feeding and 103 (34.1%) had support from husband and family. Mild stress was reported by 290 (96%) mothers whereas mild depression was reported by 295 (97.7%) mothers. The Fisher exact test revealed that there was significant association between gestational age, presence of baby with mother, birth weight, method of feeding and social support with postpartum stress and depression whereas age of the mother had no significant association with postpartum stress and depression.
Conclusion: Understanding the factors associated for postpartum stress and depression is considerable for planning mental health services rendered to the mothers in their postnatal period to make puerperium healthy for themselves as well as their babies and family.
Keywords: Predictors, Psychological health, Postnatal mothers, Postpartum Stress, Postpartum Depression