Impact of Psychosocial Factors on Postpartum Depression of Mothers

Pregnancy and postpartum period involve many challenges mothers face. In this period, mothers go through a range of emotions and states, because of intensive physical, emotional and hormonal changes. Postpartum depression is an important depression episode which begins in pregnancy or within 4 weeks after giving birth (APA, 2013). This research aims to assess impact of psychological factors especially family support during the postpartum depression. Research is conducted in Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic, Pediatric Clinic and in private Hospital “Lindja”, in Prishtina, during period may-june in 2018. Study is focused in relation of psychosocial factors such as: birthplace, education, employment, economic level, mental health, number of children, breastfeeding, anxiety, spousal relationship and social support. Subjects of this study were 136 mothers, from the third day of giving birth till one year after this. The instruments were self-reporters, measurement was used for postpartum depression in Edinburgh (EPDS), while multidimensional social support rates, were used to measure social support. Prevalence of depression was 12,61%, in the sample of 136 subjects with an average age of 31.3 ± 6.4, years of education 12±2,5, mostly living in rural area 44.9%. Related to social support, mothers report high level of family and spousal support (respectively M=22.13±5.5; M=22.78±5.46) and lower level of social support. Results notify that most of these factors have significant role. Factors such as education, employment, economic level, mental health, pregnancy progress and birth, children age, breastfeeding, anxiety, spousal relationship seems to have high percentage of impact in postpartum depression. Depression after giving birth is rising as a problem of mental health, and has negative impact on personal, family and national level. During the research was noted that psychosocial factors are really important to preserve emotional, cognitive and behavior equilibrium. Meanwhile family support is an important homeostatic component. Getting social help, especially after giving birth, is important to lower the risk of PPD