Psychosocial Risk Factors for Depression in Pregnant Adolescents

Abstract

Aim: Pregnancy in adolescence can negatively affect psychological, physical, and social development, and depression is more common in these pregnancies. This study aimed to investigate frequency of antenatal depression, and its psychological and social antecedents, in adolescent pregnancies. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional survey study included 272 pregnant adolescents admitted to the antenatal outpatient clinic in a tertiary hospital between May and August 2019. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and a structured questionnaire about demographic and psychosocial characteristics, and obstetric history, were used. Results: The mean age of the pregnant adolescents was 17.2±0.8 (range, 14-19) years, 232 (85.3%) of them were married, and their mean age at first marriage was 16.6±1.3 years. The mean total EPDS score was 8.7±6.2, and 58 (21.3%) of them had depressive symptoms. As education level decreased, the frequency of depressive symptoms increased (p=0.001). In total, 36 (62.1%) of the 58 pregnant adolescents with an EPDS score ≥13 had a history of depression; the other 22 (37.9%) had no history. The prevalence of depression symptoms was significantly higher in pregnant adolescents with a history of depression (p=0.001). In total, 17 pregnant adolescents with a depression risk score ≥13 were diagnosed with depression, and psychiatric support and counseling were provided. Conclusion: In pregnant adolescents, low educational status and a previous history of depression were closely associated with antenatal depression. Effective antenatal screening should be performed in all pregnant adolescents, especially those with risk factors, to check for antenatal depression and identify those who need psychological support.

Keywords

• adolescent pregnancy
• antenatal depression
• edinburgh postpartum depression scale
• adölesan gebelik;
• antenatal depresyon
• edinburgh postpartum depresyon ölçeği