Comparing the Levels of Coping with Postpartum Depression and Stress of Mothers of Premature Babies and Term Infants Who is Applying to the Pediatric Emergency Department

Emergency Service in Terms of Postpartum Depression and Coping with Stress

Abstract

Background: The aim is to compare the frequency of depression in mothers of premature and term infants, determine the relationship between stress coping styles and the level of anxiety and depression, identify sources of stress and reduce the frequency of applying to the emergency department.

Material and Method: 50 volunteer mothers of premature and 50 term infants who gave birth within the last 3 months and applied to the Emergency Department of the Training and Research Hospital between August 2017 and November 2017, were included in the study. Sociodemographic data form, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, depression and anxiety sections, Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and Stress coping styles scale were given to these individuals. The survey results were analyzed using the SPSS 19.0 statistical program.

Results: At the end of our work; according to Edinburgh postpartum depression scale, 32% of the mothers of premature infants and 28% of the mothers of term infants were diagnosed with postpartum depression. When the styles of coping with stress are examined, there was no statistically significant difference between the premature and the term group (p>0.05). As a result of the evaluation made using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, 30 patients were diagnosed with postpartum depression. When those who were diagnosed with postpartum depression and those who did not were compared in terms of coping styles with stress, there was a statistically significant difference between only those who applied to the helpless approach and it was higher in cases with postpartum depression (p<0.05). When other styles of coping with stress are examined, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p>0.05).

Conclusion: There was no difference in terms of postpartum depression between patients with preterm delivery and patients with term delivery. However, postpartum depression rates were higher than expected in both groups. It is assumed that it may be associated with increasing exposure to trigger factors for depression.

Keywords: Stress, depression, postpartum