Volume 25 , Issue 2 , December 2023 , Pages 471-475
Shahla Hamid Hassan 1 ; Abdulqadr Hussein Hamad 2
1 College of Nursing, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
2 College of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Background: Mothers may experience challenges during pregnancy, especially
primigravida because it is their first time giving birth is a life-changing incident.
Antenatal depression can impact a woman while pregnant and, if left untreated, can be a
prelude to postpartum depression. Objectives: To evaluate primigravida prenatal
depression during pregnancy in Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan region of Iraq, and to ascertain
the correlation between these women's depression score and their sociodemographic
features. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, antenatal depression was
assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) among 100
primigravida participants at selected healthcare centres. The study used a validated
questionnaire to collect participants' data through a random sampling technique. Results:
In the current study, most of the primigravida women (57%) were aged 18-24 years old,
housewives (73%), and had an academic degree (44%). According to the EPDS cut-off
point (≥10), 46 out of 100 women were determined to be depressed (46%). Among them,
those aged 18-24 had more depression possibility (23%) than other age groups
(p=0.212). Also, housewives experienced more depression possibility (29%) than other
groups (p=0.031). Additionally, most women who had academic degrees had more
depression possibility (28%) than other groups (p=0.003). Conclusions: Pregnant
women frequently experience depression in this locality. Measures of prenatal
depression ought to be a standard part of prenatal consultations to facilitate the early
identification and treatment of mental health problems during the sensitive stage of
pregnancy.