Predictors of postpartum depression in a sample of Egyptian women

Figures & data

Table 1 Clinical data of both postpartum depression and control groups

	Postpartum depression group No = 60		Control group No = 60		t
	Mean	±SD	Mean	±SD
Age	28.97	5.08	28.08	5.94	1.38
Age of menarche	12.15	1.44	12.80	1.77	−1.96
Socioeconomic statusa	17.93	4.56	24.98	26.57	−2.06*
Presence of postpartum depressionb	11.57	4.99	5.97	2.78	8.16***
Psychosocial stressorsc	207.67	62.05	45.07	19.32	13.38***
Level of estradiol	20.63	60.00	58.21	77.41	−6.07***
Level of thyroxin (T3)	1.07	0.43	1.39	0.36	−7.57***
Level of cortical	8.32	4.27	11.92	4.91	−11.16***

Notes:

a Using Fahmy and El-Sherbini’s Social Classification Scale;

b using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale;

c using Horowitz’s Impact of Event Scale;

* P < 0.05;

*** P < 0.001.

Abbreviation: SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Sociodemographic and clinical data of both postpartum depression and control groups

	Postpartum depression group		Control group		χ^2
	n	%	n	%
Marital status
Married monogamy	44	73.3%	47	78.3%	84.84***
Married polygamy	7	11.7%	6	10%
Separated	6	10%	4	6.7%
Widowed	3	5%	3	5%
Residence
Urban	22	36.7%	25	41.7%	48.632***
Rural	38	63.3%	35	58.3%
Parity
Primipara	16	26.7%	6	10%	80.93***
Multipara	44	63.3%	54	90%
2nd–3rd	26	43.3%	23	38.3%
4th–6th	15	25%	29	48.3%
>6th	3	5%	2	3.3%
Attitude towards pregnancy
Wanted	42	70%	57	95%	1.35
Unwanted	18	30%	3	5%
Planning of pregnancy
Planned	42	70%	55	91.7%	0.26
Unplanned	18	30%	5	8.3%
Method of delivery
Unassisted	27	45%	48	80%	41.25***
Forceps–assisted	17	28.3%	6	10%
Caesarean	16	26.7%	6	10%
Puerperium
Normal	26	43.3%	48	80%	11.47***
Complicated	34	56.7%	12	20%
Attitude toward spouse
Positive	23	38.3%	50	10	7.45**
Negative	37	61.7%	83.3%	16.7%
Social support
Adequate	19	31.7%	46	76.7%	8.46**
Inadequate	41	68.3%	14	23.3%
History of PMTS
Yes	39	65%	15	25%	10.76***
No	21	35%	45	75%

Notes:

** P <0.01;

*** P < 0.001.

Abbreviation: PMTS, premenstrual tension syndrome.

Table 3 Factors in newborn infant in both postpartum depression and control groups

	Postpartum depression group		Control group		χ^2
	n	%	n	%
Emotional reaction toward baby
Welcomed	25	41.7%	37	61.7%	26.64*
Unwelcomed	35	58.3%	23	38.3%
Attitude toward baby
Positive	25	41.7%	48	80%	10.71*
Negative	35	58.3%	12	20%
Birth weight
Average	39	65%	49	81.7%	25.01*
Underweight	21	35%	11	18.3%
Sex of baby
Male	23	38.3%	35	58.3%	26.64*
Female	37	61.7%	25	41.7%
Feeding baby
Breast	23	38.3%	32	53.3%	32.63*
Artificial	37	61.7%	28	46.7%
Baby health
Normal	42	70%	45	75%	194.00*
Premature	4	6.7%	1	1.7%
Stillbirth	2	3.3%	4	6.7%
Congenitally abnormal	1	1.7%	2	3.3%
Intrauterine fetal death	1	1.7%	2	3.3%
Precious baby	6	10%	2	3.3%
Complication, eg, jaundice, sticky eye, cord around the neck	4	6.7%	4	6.7%

Note:

* P < 0.001.

Table 4 Correlation between severity of postpartum depression using EPNDQS and clinicobiological variables of postpartum depression patients

Clinical variables	Mean	Standard deviation	r
Age	28.97	5.09	0.18
Onset of depression	3.18	1.63	0.83*
Age of menarche	12.15	1.44	0.071
Socioeconomic status	17.93	4.56	−0.75*
Psychosocial stress	207.67	62.05	0.59*
Level of estradiol	20.63	60.00	0.25
Level of thyroxin (T3)	1.07	0.43	0.64*
Level of cortisol	8.32	4.27	0.66*

Note:

* Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r), two-tailed P < 0.001.

Table 5 Risk factors of postpartum depression using long linear regression analysis

Model	Unstandardized coefficients		Standardized coefficients	t
	B	Standard error	Beta
1. (Constant)	−3.70	1.27		−2.91**
Social support	9.07	0.73	0.85	12.47***
2. (Constant)	7.16	2.74		2.61**
Social support	6.65	0.85	0.63	7.85***
Socioeconomic status	−0.38	0.09	−0.35	−4.34***
3. (Constant)	5.90	2.59		2.27*
Social support	3.72	1.24	0.35	2.99**
Socioeconomic status	−0.35	0.08	−0.32	−4.21***
Feeding baby	3.48	1.14	0.34	3.06**
4. (Constant)	0.50	3.52		0.15
Social support	3.10	1.24	0.29	2.47*
Socioeconomic status	−0.25	0.09	−0.23	−2.69**
Feeding baby	3.65	1.10	0.36	3.31*
Prior psychiatric problem	2.40	1.10	0.17	2.19*

Notes:

* P < 0.05;

** P < 0.01;

*** P < 0.001.