Influencing Factors on Antenatal Depression

Purpose: This study examined the influencing factors on antenatal depression among pregnant women.

Methods: This was a cross sectional descriptive study with 255 pregnant women who visited a general hospital in a metropolitan city for their regularly scheduled check-up. Measurement tools employed were the Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the food habits, and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Socio-demographic variables and the status of high risk pregnancy were identified. Influencing factors on antenatal depression were identified using a stepwise multiple regression analysis.

Results: The mean score of antenatal depression was 7.2 +/- 5.0; 18.4% with mild depression, 5.9% had moderate depression, with 0.8% identified with severe depression on BDI scale. Influencing factors on antenatal depression accounted for 47.8% of the total variance which consisted of quality of sleep, marital satisfaction, food habits, gestation periods, sexual satisfaction, high risk pregnancy, and age.

Conclusion: Findings show that antenatal depression should be monitored on a regular basis during early pregnancy and in high risk pregnancy if possible, and quality of sleep and food habits should be incorporated in the management of antenatal depression.