Title:Is there a Relationship Between Gestational Diabetes and Postpartum Depression?
Volume: 17
Issue: 2
Author(s): Salman Khazaei, Erfan Ayubi, Saeid Bashirian, Ronak Hamzehei and Ensiyeh Jenabi*
Affiliation:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan,Iran
Keywords:
Diabetes, postpartum depression, risk factor, educational activities, interventional activities, Iran.
Abstract:
Background: The relationship between gestational diabetes and postpartum depression
(PPD) is poorly understood and seldom studied.
Objective: In an effort to explore this issue, the present study investigated the relationship between
gestational diabetes and PPD.
Methods: The present cross-sectional study was performed on 342 women who were referred to
four urban health centers of Hamadan city, west of Iran. We used convenience sampling as a
method to recruit women in each health center. We used a researcher-made checklist for gathering
data on socio-demographic characteristics and potential risk factors of PPD. The Persian validated
version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess PPD. Univariate
and multivariable binary logistic regression was applied to estimate the odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence
interval [CI]).
Results: Gestational diabetes was identified as the most important risk factor for PPD with OR
(95% CI) of 2.19 (1.11, 4.31); P-value=0.02 after adjusting for other variables. Moreover, the adjusted
odds ratio showed that PPD among less-educated women (primary school) was 3.5 times higher
compared to women with a university education (OR=3.54, 95% CI: 1.27, 9.84; P-value=0.01).
Conclusion: Our findings suggested that PPD is more likely among women with gestational diabetes
and those who are less educated. Interventional and educational activities can be employed to
reduce the risk of PPD in this population.
