title: Depressive symptoms in a sample of women following perinatal loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to identify variables associated with depressive symptoms among women shortly after perinatal loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respondents who agreed to participate in the study were interviewed, and sociodemographic data were obtained from them. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS) were thereafter administered on each respondent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents with perinatal loss had high rate of depressive symptoms (52% on EDPS), the rate was significantly higher, when compared with the control group (chi2 = 10.16, P=0.001). Factors significantly associated with depressive symptoms included previous perinatal losses, poor support from husband and occurrence of antenatal complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depressive reaction following perinatal loss is very common. Programs need to be designed to help these women cope with their loss and to reduce subsequent psychological morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-lfe, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adebanjo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adeyemi
authors.forename: Kolawole
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mosaku
authors.forename: Olusegun
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ajenifuja
authors.forename: Femi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fatoye
authors.forename: Niyi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Makinde
authors.forename: Bolanle
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000523:psychology*