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Perinatal Depression During the COVID-19 Epidemic in Wuhan, China
21 Pages Posted: 5 May 2020
More...Abstract
Objective: The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan and has since spread all over the world. This study aims to investigate perinatal depression during the COVID-19 epidemic, as well as to evaluate the effects of exposure to the COVID-19 epidemic and family function on perinatal depression.
Methods: In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey on perinatal depression including prenatal inpatients in Hubei Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital from December 31, 2019 to March 22, 2020. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to evaluate perinatal depression, and the APGAR family function scale was used to evaluate the family function. The chi-square tests and logistic regression were applied for data analysis.
Results: In total, there were 2,883 participants included in this study, and 33.71% of the participants had depression symptoms, including 27.02% with mild depression, 5.24% moderate depression, and 1.46% severe depression. The prevalence of perinatal depression increased along with the increasing number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 patients. Compared to Dec/31/2019-Jan/12/2020, the risk of prenatal depression significantly decreased during Mar/02/2020-Mar/22/2020 (OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.77; OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.71; OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.89) and the risk of postnatal depression significantly elevated during Jan/27- Feb/23/2020 (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.69; OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.34, 3.02; OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.12; OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.44). Compared with participants reporting good family function, those reporting poor or fair of family function have a significantly higher risk of prenatal depression (OR = 2.80, 95% CI: 1.46, 5.38) and postnatal depression (OR = 4.09, 95% CI: 2.90, 5.77).
Conclusions: This study descripted the dynamic changes of maternal depression prevalence during the COVID-19 epidemic. Prenatal depression in the beginning of the epidemic and postnatal depression in the end of the epidemic should be noticed. Besides, strengthening family function may help reduce the prevalence of perinatal depression.
Funding Statement: None.
Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.
Ethics Approval Statement: After obtaining the approval of the hospital’s Ethics Committee, the questionnaire survey was implemented from December 31, 2019 to March 22, 2020. All of participants provided oral informed consent prior to the investigation, in line with the Declaration of Helsinki regarding human participation.
Keywords: COVID-19; perinatal depression; family function; EPDS; inpatient
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