Postnatal depression among mothers in the United Arab Emirates: socio-cultural and physical factors.
Postnatal depression (PND) has been found to affect women in cultures around the world. This study sought to further identify the prevalence and related socio-cultural and physical factors in Arab women from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study involved a sample of Emirati women recruited in a government maternity hospital in Abu Dhabi who completed demographic questionnaires soon after giving birth (n=125) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 3 months (n=86) and 6 months postpartum (n=56). Data are presented in three categories of: No Depression (scores of 0-9), Borderline Depression (scores of 10-12) and Depression (scores of 13+). It was found that at 3 months, this sample had 22% of mothers falling into the Depression category and another 22% falling in the Borderline Depression category. At 6 months, this fell to 12.5% Depression category and 19.6% Borderline Depression category. Relationships between higher depression scores and risk factors included; not breastfeeding, giving birth to the first child, poor self body image and view of weight, poor relationship with mother-in-law, and an older age at marriage. Results are discussed in relation to UAE and Islamic culture.
Green
Katherine
K
Capella University, Graduate School of Education, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, USA. Katherine.Green@faculty.capella.edu
Broome
Hazel
H
Mirabella
James
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003469:Culture; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology