Authors

Alicia Sievers Escribano

Position

Enfermera especialista en Ginecología-Obstetricia (matrona). Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón. Madrid

Contact address

Alicia Sievers Escribano. C/ Londres, 42, 5º B. 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz (Madrid).

Contact email: alicia.sievers@gmail.com

Abstract

Objective: to understand the prevalence of mood disorders in postpartum women.
Methodology: a transversal descriptive study, in the setting of Primary Care Centres in South-East Madrid. the study population included all women who attended their post-partum visit or post-partum groups from October, 2012 to February, 2013, and who met the inclusion criteria, by completing a data collection record which included, as well as a series of sociodemographical and clinical variables, the Goldberg and Edinburgh Scales to assess depression and anxiety.
Results: information was collected for 120 women; 80% were Spanish, with a mean age of 32-years (SD: 5.64), first-time mothers who in the majority of cases had wanted to become pregnant and had a stable partner, with a medium level of education and income. Regarding their social situation, in 60% of cases they presented a high level of education, and a medium level of income in 85% of cases. An 81% of women had family support for raising the newborn, and 80% lived at home with their partner. A 90% did no present any psychiatric condition throughout their lives, reaching a 45% prevalence of anxiety and a 27% of postpartum depression.
Conclusions: the postpartum period is a time of changes and adaptation to the new role as a mother, where adequate support must be provided by health professionals for an early detection of symptoms, allowing treatment initiation in order to prevent severe situations; postpartum groups should also be encouraged.

Keywords:

anxiety; postpartum depression; postpartum period; mood

Versión en Español

Título:

Prevalencia de alteraciones del estado de ánimo en las mujeres puérperas