Comparison of childbirth experiences and postpartum depression among primiparous women based on their attendance in childbirth preparation classes

Abstract

Background

Assessment of women’s childbirth experience is an important indicator in maternity services. Positive childbirth experiences improve mothers’ health, whereas negative childbirth experiences can cause psychological stresses and, in extreme cases, may lead to postpartum depression.

Methods

In this cohort study, 204 women at 35–37 weeks of gestation were selected using cluster sampling from the health centers of Tabriz, Iran. Women were divided into three groups (68 women in each group) based on their attendance in childbirth preparation classes: (a) non-attenders (did not attend any sessions), (b) irregular attenders (attended 1–3 sessions), and (c) regular attendants (attended 4–8 sessions). Interviews were conducted at one month postpartum to complete the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The general linear model (GLM) was used to identify associations between women’s attendance to the classes and either their childbirth experience or postpartum depression scores.

Results

Based on the GLM, the mean score of childbirth experience among the regular attenders was significantly higher than women who were irregular attenders (p = .032) or non-attenders (p < .001). In addition, the mean score of postpartum depression scale was significantly lower among regular attenders compared with non-attenders (p < .001). However, there was no significant difference in postpartum depression score among regular and irregular attenders (p = .257).

Conclusions

Attending prenatal classes was associated with positive childbirth experience and low postpartum depression score.

Keywords:

• Childbirth experience
• postpartum depression
• childbirth preparation classes
• primiparous women
• cohort study

Acknowledgements

We hereby wish to express our gratitude to this university’s Research Deputy and the faculty members of the School of Nursing and Midwifery of the university for their extensive help and support, in addition to all the participants.

Ethical approval: This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran (code of ethics IR.TBZMED.REC.1398.066). Written informed consent has been obtained from each participant.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study is funded by Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.The funding agency had no role in the design of the study, the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.