title: Postpartum mental health in relation to sociocultural practices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cultural practices have been found to positively impact the mothering experience. This study sought to identify the relationship between sociocultural practices and postpartum depression (PPD) in a cohort of Iranian women for the first time.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a longitudinal cohort design, 2279 pregnant women attending primary health centers of Mazandaran province in Iran were recruited using stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and researchers developed validated cultural practices questionnaire at 3 months after delivery. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of PPD was 19% among 1910 women who were followed postdelivery in this study. Cultural practices were not associated with lower odds of PPD in multiple logistic regression model after adjustment for all sociodemographic factors. The results of this study do not also provide any evidence to support that sex of baby is associated with the greater risk of PPD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cultural practices could not be perceived as protective mechanisms that protect women from PPD in this traditional society. However, health professionals should be familiar with postpartum beliefs and practices that could support mothers in the postpartum period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abdollahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Sivosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Etemadinezhad
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia. Electronic address: lyems9@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Munn-Sann
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D065840:Protective Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: culture; depression; postpartum; practices