Postnatal depression: identification of risk factors in the short-stay maternity program in Belgium. A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Postnatal depression (PND) is one of the most frequent complications in women of childbearing age in the developed world. The onset of PND is influenced by several risk factors. In an attempt to avoid unnecessary long maternity stays, the Short Stay Maternity programme was launched, shifting care from the hospital environment to the outpatient setting. AIM: In order to develop an efficient programme to trace vulnerable women after childbirth and to provide support within primary care, the aim was to create an inventory of the risk factors for PND within the population of women participating in the short-stay programme. DESIGN & SETTING: This study is a cross-sectional study without follow-up. Women in Belgium were invited by email to participate in the Short Stay Maternity programme within 3 months of delivery. METHOD: The questionnaire addressed background features and feelings during the maternity period, supplemented with the validated Dutch version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The primary outcome measure of the questionnaire was the score on the EPDS. RESULTS: A total of 131 (27.46%) of the invited women participated. Sixteen participants (12.21%) presented with a positive score on the EPDS. The odds ratio (OR) for a positive score on the EPDS when experiencing negative feelings was 13.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.14 to 44.01). If only material support was provided, the OR for a positive EPDS score was OR 11.2 (95% CI = 2.72 to 55.5). CONCLUSION: In this study, two risk factors were identified for PND: negative feelings during pregnancy and the provision of only material support by the partner.