Interaction of maternal age and mode of delivery in the development of postpartum depression in Yerevan, Armenia.

BACKGROUND

To investigate determinants of development of postpartum depression among women in Yerevan, Armenia.

METHOD

A case-control study of all reproductive age (18-45) women having 1-3 months old children registered in 7 Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities, in Yerevan. We used Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a structured questionnaire to assess possible postpartum depression status of mothers and exposure status through telephone interviews.

RESULTS

The study had a 96.7% response rate for 63 cases and 272 controls. The prevalence of possible postpartum depression was 14.4%. The risk of possible postpartum depression associated with age less than 25 years at childbirth was increased only among women who delivered their child through C-section (OR=7.8; 95% CI: 1.5-40.7). Meanwhile, this risk was much lower among women who delivered through vaginal delivery (OR=0.9; 95% CI: 0.4-1.8).

LIMITATIONS

EPDS had not been translated and validated in Armenia. Study population included only women having 1-3 months old children.

CONCLUSION

The study suggested that the effect of younger age at last childbirth on the risk of possible postpartum depression development was higher for women who gave birth through C-section compared to those with vaginal delivery. Despite the stressful and crisis conditions existing in Armenia over the past 2 decades the prevalence of possible postpartum depression does not differ much from that in other societies.