Effect of postpartum care model on the occurrence of postpartum depression

To determine the effect of postpartum care models on the occurrence of postpartum depression.

A prospective case-control study was conducted using EPDS among 419 women who underwent 42-day postpartum checkups between August 2023 and August 2024. The subjects were divided into two groups based on whether they had PPD. The influence of postpartum care models (the modes of receiving care from discharge to 42 days after delivery) on the occurrence of PPD was analyzed, and the independent influence factors on the occurrence of PPD were clarified.

Among the enrolled parturients, 84 had PPD, 11 of whom breastfed, 31 artificially fed, and 42 mixed fed their infants. There were 59 cases of prenatal depression and 25 cases of non-prenatal depression. 31 subjects were satisfied with the gender of the baby, and 53 were not satisfied. PPD occurred in 9 subjects who asked for maternity care at home, 12 who received care in the maternity center, and 63 who were under the care of family members at home. Analysis of the relationship between the occurrence of PPD and various parameters showed that BMI (X² = 6.111 p = 0.047), feeding methods (X² = 32.332 p = 0.000), prenatal depression (X² = 62.988 p = 0.000), satisfied with the gender of the baby (X² = 39.212 p = 0.000), and puerperal care model (X² = 11.750 p = 0.003) were significantly correlated with the occurrence of PPD. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression revealed that mixed feeding (OR 2.922(1.898-4.497) p = 0.000), prenatal depression (OR 0.147(0.079-0.273) p = 0.000), dissatisfaction with the gender of the baby (OR 0.156(0.082-0.297) p = 0.000), and received home care from relatives (OR 2.119(1.371-3.275) p = 0.001) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of PPD. BMI (OR 0.655(0.420-1.021) p = 0.062) was not an independent risk factor.

Parturient received home care with nanny or go to maternity center may reduce the occurrence of PPD. In addition, we recommend strengthened counseling for parturients with prenatal depression, those who use mixed feeding of their infants, and those who were dissatisfied with the gender of the baby in an effort to reduce the occurrence of PPD.