Psychological distress in pregnancy and postpartum: a cross-sectional study of Babol pregnancy mental health registry

Shahnaz Barat; Azita Ghanbarpour; Seyyedeh Mahboubeh Mirtabar; Farzan Kheirkhah; Zahra Basirat; Hoda Shirafkan; Angela Hamidia; Faezeh Khorshidian; Davood Hosseini Talari; Zeynab Pahlavan; Sedigheh Esmaelzadeh; Zinatosadat Buzari; Mahtab Zeynalzadeh; Shahla Yazdani Charati; Fatemeh Shafizade; Mahsima Adnani; Fatemeh Amirkhanloo; Maedeh Mollaalipour; Atieh Chale kani; Mania Amiri; Razieh Khazaei; Seyedeh Shabnam Mehdinia; Fatemeh Basirat; Simin Asadollahi; Asieh Khodami; Alireza Azizi; Fatemeh Nasiri-Amiri; Nooshin Fatery; Shirin Shahrokhi; Banafshe Zarinkamar; Sajedeh Aligoltabar; Mahbobeh Faramarzi

doi:10.1186/s12884-023-06024-3

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (Nov 2023)

Psychological distress in pregnancy and postpartum: a cross-sectional study of Babol pregnancy mental health registry

Shahnaz Barat,
Azita Ghanbarpour,
Seyyedeh Mahboubeh Mirtabar,
Farzan Kheirkhah,
Zahra Basirat,
Hoda Shirafkan,
Angela Hamidia,
Faezeh Khorshidian,
Davood Hosseini Talari,
Zeynab Pahlavan,
Sedigheh Esmaelzadeh,
Zinatosadat Buzari,
Mahtab Zeynalzadeh,
Shahla Yazdani Charati,
Fatemeh Shafizade,
Mahsima Adnani,
Fatemeh Amirkhanloo,
Maedeh Mollaalipour,
Atieh Chale kani,
Mania Amiri,
Razieh Khazaei,
Seyedeh Shabnam Mehdinia,
Fatemeh Basirat,
Simin Asadollahi,
Asieh Khodami,
Alireza Azizi,
Fatemeh Nasiri-Amiri,
Nooshin Fatery,
Shirin Shahrokhi,
Banafshe Zarinkamar,
Sajedeh Aligoltabar,
Mahbobeh Faramarzi

Affiliations

Shahnaz Barat: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Azita Ghanbarpour: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Research Institute, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Seyyedeh Mahboubeh Mirtabar: Research Clinical Psychology, Student Research Committee, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Farzan Kheirkhah: Department of Psychiatry, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Zahra Basirat: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Hoda Shirafkan: Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Angela Hamidia: Department of Psychiatry, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Faezeh Khorshidian: Department of Psychiatry, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Davood Hosseini Talari: Department of Psychiatry, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Zeynab Pahlavan: Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery,Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Reproductive Health, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Sedigheh Esmaelzadeh: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Zinatosadat Buzari: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Mahtab Zeynalzadeh: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Shahla Yazdani Charati: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Fatemeh Shafizade: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Research Institute, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Mahsima Adnani: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Research Institute, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Fatemeh Amirkhanloo: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Research Institute, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Maedeh Mollaalipour: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Research Institute, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Atieh Chale kani: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Research Institute, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Mania Amiri: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Research Institute, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Razieh Khazaei: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Research Institute, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Seyedeh Shabnam Mehdinia: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Research Institute, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Fatemeh Basirat: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Research Institute, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Simin Asadollahi: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Research Institute, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Asieh Khodami: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Research Institute, Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Alireza Azizi: Department of Psychiatry, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Fatemeh Nasiri-Amiri: Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery,Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Reproductive Health, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Nooshin Fatery: Midwifery, Clinical Research Development Unit of Rohani Hospital, Health Research, Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Shirin Shahrokhi: Clinical Psychology, Student Reasearch Committee, Behshahr Azad University
Banafshe Zarinkamar: Clinical Psychology, Clinical Research Development Unit of Shahid Yahya Nejad, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Sajedeh Aligoltabar: Midwifery, Student Reasearch Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences
Mahbobeh Faramarzi: Department of General Courses, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-06024-3
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 23, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract Background Psychological distress (PD) is a significant issue during pregnancy and postpartum, adversely affecting both children and mothers. This study aims to determine PD's prevalence and risk factors in a large Iranian population sample during pregnancy and postpartum. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Babol Pregnancy Mental Health Registry (located in the north of Iran) between June 2020 and March 2021. A total of 2305 women were included, with 1639 during pregnancy and 666 during postpartum. Psychological distress was assessed using the Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI-18), and data were analyzed using independent t-tests and multiple logistic regressions. Results The prevalence of psychological distress, defined by a cut-off score of BSI ≥ 13, was 19% during pregnancy and 15% during postpartum. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that high-risk pregnancy was the leading risk factor for psychological distress during the antenatal period (β = 1.776, P < 0.001), as well as its three subscales: somatization (β = 1.355, P = 0.019), anxiety symptoms (β = 2.249, P < 0.001), and depressive symptoms (β = 1.381, P = 0.028). Additionally, women with a gestational age < 20 weeks had a higher risk of psychological distress (β = 1.344, P = 0.038) and the somatization subscale (β = 1.641, P < 0.001). During the postpartum period, women residing in urban areas were at higher risk of psychological distress (β = 1.949, P = 0.012), as well as two subscales: anxiety symptoms (β = 1.998, P = 0.012) and depressive symptoms (β = 1.949, P = 0.020). Conclusion The high prevalence of psychological distress emphasizes detecting and treating PD during pregnancy and postpartum, particularly in women with high-risk pregnancies. This study suggests that obstetricians and midwives should implement programs to identify women experiencing psychological distress during early pregnancy through postpartum visits.

Published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

ISSN: 1471-2393 (Online)
Publisher: BMC
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Gynecology and obstetrics
Website: http://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com

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