Antepartum Depression and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending ANC Clinics in Gurage Zone Public Health Institutions, SNNPR, Ethiopia, 2019

BACKGROUND: Antepartum depression is a form of clinical depression that can be caused by the stress and worry that pregnancy can bring a more severe level. It can be triggered by an unplanned pregnancy, a history of substance abuse, and low economic status. Antepartum depression is critical and has an intergenerational impact on children in the developing world and it can have negative effects on fetal development. Therefore, this study aimed to assess its magnitude and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Gurage zone public health institutions, SNNPR, Ethiopia, 2019. METHODS: Intuition-based cross-sectional study was employed in Gurage zone public health institutions from February 14 to April 14/2019. A systematic random sampling technique was used. The data were collected and then entered into EpiData and processed by SPSS version 24.0 for analysis. P values <0.05 with 95% confidence level were used to declare statistical significance. RESULTS: In this study, a total of 343 pregnant mothers were participated by making a response rate of 96%. The magnitude of antepartum depression among pregnant women was 27.6% (95% CI: 22.4–33.2). The multivariable analysis showed that respondents who had unplanned pregnancy [AOR=2.11 (95% CI: 1.05–4.44)], having complications during their previous labor and delivery [AOR=4.42 (95% CI: 2.06–9.48)], previous history of child hospitalization [AOR=3.34 (95% CI: 1.48–7.51)], and satisfaction in their marriage [AOR=3.9 (95% CI: 1.15–13.21)] were associated with antepartum depression. CONCLUSION: In this study, about one in four women during pregnancy develop antepartum depression. Unplanned pregnancy, complications during labor and delivery of the last baby, women having a history of child hospitalization, and maternal satisfaction with marriage were statistically associated factors with APD. To prevent further consequences, all concerned bodies need to take action by making targeted intervention and early screening of all pregnant mothers for depression.