Postpartum Depression and Its Impact of the Mother Child Relationship

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is one of the main complications of the postpartum period [1]. Yet it is often insufficiently prevented, diagnosed and treated. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of postpartum depression and its impact on the mother-baby relationship, and to identify associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: Descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study, over a three-month period from January 1 to March 31, 2022, of postpartum women using a hetero-questionnaire (socio-demographic data); Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ). Results: We enrolled 227 patients. The mean age of our patients was 28.8 ± 5.76 years.53.7% of our patients were primiparous, and 83.3% wanted their current pregnancy. 13.7% had given birth prematurely. The prevalence of postpartum depression was 21.1% and correlated with celibacy, low educational level, lack of desire for pregnancy and poor marital relationship. Post-partum depression is said to have an impact on family dynamics, mainly on the mother-baby relationship, and later on the child's psychological balance and development, as assessed by the PBQ. The PBQ came back disturbed in our study. Conclusion: Therapeutic, preventive and even curative measures should be proposed for postpartum women, from educational measures for women and their close circle, psychotherapeutic means to well timed and appropriate drug prescription before complications set in.