Prevalence, nature, severity and correlates of postpartum depressive symptoms in Vietnam.
OBJECTIVE
To examine depressive symptomatology in women after childbirth in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.


METHODS
A cross sectional survey.


METHODS
Hung Vuong Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital and the Maternal, Child Health and Family Planning Center of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.


METHODS
Mothers of infants aged +/- six weeks attending well-baby clinics.


METHODS
Participants were recruited consecutively in the postnatal wards and invited to take part in the study at the first clinic visit. Individual structured interviews about health and social circumstances, including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were administered during clinic visits. The interview schedule was translated into Vietnamese, back translated for verification and piloted. Interviewers were specifically trained members of staff of the two centres.


METHODS
EPDS scores and responses to structured questions about specific and non-specific symptoms.


RESULTS
Of 506 women who participated, 166 (33%) had EPDS scores in the clinical range of > 12 and 99 (19%) acknowledged suicidal ideation. In a forward stepwise logistic regression analysis, 77% of cases with EPDS scores > 12 were correctly classified in a model which included unwelcome pregnancy, lack of a permanent job, < 30 days complete rest after childbirth, an unsettled baby, not being given special foods, avoiding proscribed foods and being unable to confide in their husbands.


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptomatology is more prevalent among parturient women in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam than reported rates in developed countries and is at present unrecognised.
Fisher
J R W
JR
Key Centre for Women's Health in Society, WHO Collaborating Centre in Women's Health, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Morrow
M M
MM
Ngoc
N T Nhu
NT
Anh
L T Hoang
LT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology