THE PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR ANTENATAL DEPRESSION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING CLINICS IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA

Haifa Alotaibe*, Tarek Elsaid and Rabaa Almomen

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study was aimed to assess antenatal depression prevalence among pregnant women in Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at antenatal clinics in Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited during their first, second, and third trimester and completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Participants included women aged 18–45, understood Arabic, had no documented obstetrical complications, and visited a clinic anytime between January 3 and February 20, 2014. Results: Results revealed an antenatal depression prevalence rate of 54.5%. Prevalence rates were 20.2%, 15%, and 18% during the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. Rates between the three trimesters were not significantly different from each other. The main risk factors for antenatal depression included employment history, educational background, unintended pregnancy, and lack of partner support (Ps < 0.05). Multivariate analyses indicated that inadequate emotional support was the only significant predictor of antenatal depression. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that antenatal depression may be fairly common, and screening for depression throughout a pregnancy is likely important.

Keywords: antenatal depression, EPDS, prevalence, pregnancy.