Maternity "blues": prevalence and risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
estimate the prevalence and track the risk factors associated with, Maternity blues (MB).


METHODS
a transversal study was performed with 113 women, on the tenth day of puerperium. The following instruments were used: Pitt Scale (1968), Stein (1980), Inventory for stressful life events by Holmes & Rahe (1967), and a questionnaire with sociodemographic and obstetric data.


RESULTS
the prevalence of MB was 32.7% according to the Stein scale. In the univariated analysis, civil status and tobacco use were associated with MB. Legally married women and nonsmokers showed a risk approximately 4 times lower of experiencing the problem.


CONCLUSIONS
MB was very prevalent in this sample. Obstetricians must be aware of this condition which may be associated with postpartum depression.
Faisal-Cury
Alexandre
A
Hospital Universitário de São Paulo, Brazil. faisal@hu.usp.br
Menezes
Paulo Rossi
PR
Tedesco
Jose Júlio A
JJ
Kahalle
Soubhi
S
Zugaib
Marcelo
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D017533:Marital Status; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult