title: Depression and risk factors for depression among mothers of sick infants in Kumasi, Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence of and risk factors for depression in a high-risk population of mothers of ill newborns in Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who had a hospitalized newborn at a tertiary teaching hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. Surveys included information on maternal demographics, pregnancy and delivery, interpersonal violence, and social support. Postpartum depression was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9. Bivariable analysis was conducted using analysis of variance, χ(2), and Fisher exact tests; multivariable analysis was performed using multinomial logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 153 women completed the survey. Fifty (32.7%) had PHQ-9 scores of 5-9, indicating mild depression; 42 (27.4%) had PHQ-9 scores of 10-14, indicating moderate depression; and 15 (9.8%) had scores of 15 or higher, indicative of moderate/severe depression. History of interpersonal violence with current partner predicted depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mothers of sick infants in Ghana are at high risk for symptoms of clinical depression. This is of critical importance because maternal depression affects infant health outcomes and may be particularly important for mothers of sick infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1213, USA. ktgold@umich.edu
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spangenberg
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wobil
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Schwenk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013179:Spouse Abuse; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult