• Zohreh Sadat, Mahboobeh Kafaei Atrian, Negin Masoudi Alavi, Fatemeh Abbaszadeh, Zahra Karimian, and Aliacbar Taherian.
• Trauma Nursing Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
• J. Obstet. Gynaecol. Res. 2014 Jan 1; 40 (1): 172-7.

AimThe aim of this study was to determine the relation between mode of delivery (cesarean section [CS] or unassisted vaginal delivery) and postpartum depression (PPD).Material And MethodsIn a prospective study, 300 women who had experienced vaginal delivery (VD) or CS were recruited in Kashan, Iran. PPD was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). A score of 13 or more was defined as PPD. Data collection was conducted at two assessment points: 2 months and 4 months postpartum. Mean scores of EPDS and PPD were compared between the VD and CS groups.ResultsDifferences in mean scores of EPDS between CS (n = 150) and VD (n = 150) groups at the first and the second assessments were not significant. The depression mean scores differences from the first to the second assessment were compared between the two groups; VD group showed more decrease on EPDS score (P = 0.006). Comparing the two assessments, the VD group showed a more decreased EPDS from the first to the second one. PPD prevalence rates (score ≥ 13) among the VD and CS groups were 24% and 20.7% for the first and 14.7% and 16.7% for the second assessment, respectively, which were not significantly different. The logistic regression showed that an unwanted pregnancy and PPD 2 months after delivery were determinants for PPD 4 months after delivery.ConclusionThere was no relation between delivery mode and PPD at 2 and 4 months after delivery; however, the VD group showed greater decrease in EPDS score from 2 to 4 months after delivery.© 2013 The Authors. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research © 2013 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

25 keywords...

hide…