[Screening of post-partum depressive states in the Yalgado Ouedraogo National Hospital Center maternity ward in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso].

OBJECTIVES

Depression is a frequent early complication of the post-partum period. It affects the mother's own psychological function and has an important impact on the mother-child relation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We recruited a successive series of 34 women (mean age 27.4 +/- 4.5 years) who delivered at the Yalgado Ouedraogo University Hospital maternity ward. Patients were evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory on day 3 and 8 post-partum and a questionnaire was used to record social, demographic and sanitary data.

RESULTS

Average Beck Depression Inventory scores on day 3 and 8 were 9.3 +/- 4.5 and 13.5 +/- 6.2. In our series, the state of depression was the same on day 3 and 8 in 78.6% of the mothers. Mood disorders were significantly correlated with parity and the sex of the child. Other variables studies (age, occupation, matrimonial status, mode of nursing) did not influence significantly the development of a mood disorder.

CONCLUSION

The psychosocial environment plays a determining role in the development of depressive states. Adequate management requires cooperative care by the obstetrician, psychiatrist and pediatrician.