Which mothers smoke before, during and after pregnancy?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sociodemographic factors associated with cigarette smoking in women before, during and after pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: A 12-month longitudinal study. METHOD: All eligible mothers at two public maternity hospitals in Perth, Australia were asked to participate in a study of infant feeding. While in hospital, participating mothers completed a self-administered baseline questionnaire. Follow-up telephone interviews were conducted at 4, 10, 16, 22, 32, 40 and 52 weeks. Data collected included sociodemographic, biomedical, hospital-related and psychosocial factors associated with the initiation and duration of breastfeeding. RESULTS: A total of 587 (55%) mothers participated in the study. Thirty-nine percent of mothers reported smoking pre-pregnancy. Mothers who smoked were more likely to have a partner who smoked and to have consumed alcohol prior to pregnancy, and less likely to have attended antenatal classes. They were also less likely to have known how they were going to feed their baby before conception and likely to be more inclined to consider stopping breastfeeding before four months postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: Having a partner (father of the newborn infant) who smoked and maternal alcohol consumption prenatally were factors associated with pre-pregnancy smoking. In addition, if a woman decided how she would feed her infant before the pregnancy occurred and intended to breastfeed for longer than four months she was less likely to smoke in the prenatal period. Having a father (of the newborn infant) who smoked during pregnancy continued to be a factor significantly associated with maternal smoking in the antenatal and postnatal period. Not attending antenatal classes and not intending to breastfeed for longer than four months were also factors associated with maternal smoking. At ten weeks postpartum being of Caucasian origin and having a low Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Score were factors significantly associated with smoking postnatally.     

Pregnant Adolescents: Experiences and Behaviors Associated with Physical Assault by an Intimate Partner

Objective: To better understand the experiences and behaviors of battered pregnant adolescents and the characteristics of their intimate partners. Methods: As part of a longitudinal multiracial/ethnic study of drug use among pregnant and parenting adolescents, 724 adolescents 18 years of age completed face-to-face interviews on the postpartum unit between April 1994 and February 1996. Adolescent mothers reported on demographic characteristics, social support and peer contact, level of substance use before and during pregnancy, nonconforming behaviors, and both lifetime and concurrent exposure to violence. Information about the father of her baby included his level of substance use, gang and police involvement, and intimate partner violence. Chi-square and Student's t tests were used to identify victim, partner, and relationship characteristics associated with being assaulted by the father of her baby during the preceding year. Results: Eighty-six (11.9%) adolescents reported being physically assaulted by the fathers of their babies. Assaulted adolescents were significantly more likely than nonassaulted adolescents to have been exposed to other forms of violence over the same 12-month period, including verbal abuse, assault by family members, being in a fight where someone was badly hurt, reporting fear of being hurt by other teens, witnessing violence perpetrated on others, and carrying a weapon for protection. A history of nonconforming behavior and frequent or recent substance use was more common among both battered adolescents and their perpetrator partners. The age and race/ethnicity of the pregnant adolescent and the length of her relationship with the father of her baby were not associated with assault status. Conclusions: Pregnant adolescents who are assaulted by intimate partners appear to live in violence-prone environments and to have partners who engage in substance use and other nonconforming behaviors. Comprehensive assessments are critical for all adolescent females at risk of assault, and direct questions about specific behaviors or situations must be used.     

Pregnant again? Psychosocial predictors of short-interval repeat pregnancy among adolescent mothers in Mexico City

Which adolescent mothers are most likely to become pregnant soon after their first delivery? This study identifies and explores selected background, pregnancy, and postpartum predictors of short-interval repeat pregnancy among urban Mexican adolescents who were single when they conceived their first pregnancy. Of 137 adolescents followed until their second postpartum year, 26 had short-interval repeat pregnancies. These pregnancies were most likely to occur if the teenager was married or in consensual union by 5 months postpartum, was not using an IUD, and had a mother who had been an adolescent mother. Being married or in consensual union postpartum was, in turn, predicted by positive reactions of the adolescent and her partner during the first pregnancy. Nonuse of IUD was more likely if the adolescent had left school prior to pregnancy, did not receive support from her partner during the first pregnancy, and had not obtained an IUD before hospital discharge after first delivery. Adolescents whose mothers had been teen mothers came from more disadvantaged families.     

Smoking cessation and relapse among pregnant African-American smokers in Washington, DC

Smoking is the single most preventable cause of perinatal morbidity. This study examines smoking behaviors during pregnancy in a high risk population of African Americans. The study also examines risk factors associated with smoking behaviors and cessation in response to a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention. This study is a secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial addressing multiple risks during pregnancy. Five hundred African-American Washington, DC residents who reported smoking in the 6 months preceding pregnancy were randomized to a CBT intervention. Psycho-social and behavioral data were collected. Self-reported smoking and salivary cotinine levels were measured prenatally and postpartum to assess changes in smoking behavior. Comparisons were made between active smokers and those abstaining at baseline and follow-up in pregnancy and postpartum. Sixty percent of participants reported quitting spontaneously during pregnancy. In regression models, smoking at baseline was associated with older age,   

Characteristics of males who father babies born to adolescents versus older adult women in Taiwan

Purpose: To identify characteristics of males who father babies born to adolescent mothers in southern Taiwan.

Methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional study of male partners of 1,145 primigravidas (555 adolescent primigravidas and 590 adults) in Kaohsiung County, Taiwan, which compared their reports of their male partners’ characteristics. Data were collected by a questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, health behavior problems, and attitudes toward the pregnancy.

Results: In multiple logistic regression analyses, the males who father babies born to adolescent primigravidas achieved a lower level of education; a greater age discrepancy between themselves and the mothers; a greater unemployment rate; less financial independence; more smoking, drinking, and drug abuse; less supportive attitude toward pregnancy; poorer attendance at childbirth; less provision of postpartum care for mothers and infants; and greater domestic violence than adult primigravidas (p < .05). These negative findings persist even after stratification by age discrepancy. Male partners of the adolescent mothers with an age difference of 5 years or more were more likely to report drug abuse and domestic violence than those of adult primigravidas.

Conclusions: Males who father babies born to adolescent primigravidas were found to have many negative characteristics that place their partners and offspring at risk. Questions asked of or about the father of the baby during prenatal visits may help identify pregnant adolescents who need support during pregnancy and after delivery.     

The Effect of Pregnancy Intention on Important Maternal Behaviors and Satisfaction with Care in a Socially and Economically At-Risk Population

This study examined the association of pregnancy intention with maternal behaviors and the woman’s perceived satisfaction with her prenatal and delivery care. Face-to-face interviews with 478 primarily Medicaid eligible women in Indianapolis, Indiana during their postpartum hospital stay were conducted to assess their degree of satisfaction with prenatal care and pregnancy intention, stratified into wanting to be pregnant now, later or never. Behaviors and characteristics influencing utilization of prenatal care were obtained from linked birth certificate data. A greater proportion of younger women (15–29) wanted to be pregnant later, a greater proportion of African-Americans never wanted to be pregnant, a greater proportion of divorced and never married women wanted to be pregnant later or never, and as parity increased the percentage of women never wanting to be pregnant increased. Multivariate analyses found that women never wanting to be pregnant were twice as likely to underutilize prenatal care, twice as likely to smoke while pregnant, half as likely to utilize WIC services and half as likely to recommend their providers to pregnant friends or relatives compared to women with a planned pregnancy, controlling for confounding variables. Finally, women wanting to be pregnant later were half as likely to rate their overall hospital care and prenatal care provider as high. Providers assessing their patients’ pregnancy intention could better identify those women needing additional support services to adopt healthier behaviors and improve satisfaction with care. This study also demonstrated the value of more specific definitions of pregnancy intention.     

Smoking Cessation and Relapse Among Pregnant African-American Smokers in Washington,DC

Smoking is the single most preventable cause of perinatal morbidity. This study examines smoking behaviors during pregnancy in a high risk population of African Americans. The study also examines risk factors associated with smoking behaviors and cessation in response to a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention. This study is a secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial addressing multiple risks during pregnancy. Five hundred African-American Washington, DC residents who reported smoking in the 6 months preceding pregnancy were randomized to a CBT intervention. Psycho-social and behavioral data were collected. Self-reported smoking and salivary cotinine levels were measured prenatally and postpartum to assess changes in smoking behavior. Comparisons were made between active smokers and those abstaining at baseline and follow-up in pregnancy and postpartum. Sixty percent of participants reported quitting spontaneously during pregnancy. In regression models, smoking at baseline was associated with older age, <a high school education and illicit drug use. At follow-up closest to delivery, smoking was associated with lower education, smoking and cotinine level at baseline and depression. At postpartum, there was a relapse of 34%. Smokers postpartum were significantly more likely to smoke at baseline and use illicit drugs in pregnancy. Mothers in the CBT intervention were less likely to relapse. African-American women had a high spontaneous quit rate and no response to a CBT intervention during pregnancy. Postpartum mothers’ resolve to maintain a quit status seems to wane despite their prolonged period of cessation. CBT reduced postpartum relapse rates.     

Husbands' and wives' adjustment to pregnancy and first parenthood

There are conflicting reports regarding type and extent of the change in couples' lives due to the arrival of a 1st baby. The present short-term longitudinal study of 39 volunteer couples had 2 major objectives: 1) to examine changes in couples' division of labor during the transition to parenthood; and 2) to investigate husband-wife differences in the associations between indices of marital and parental adjustment during the early postpartum months. Individual questionnaires and interviews were administered in couples' homes on 3 occasions: early pregnancy, late pregnancy, and 3-4 months postpartum. The major findings were that changes in household division of labor from early pregnancy to late pregnancy to 3-4 months postpartum demonstrated a curvilinear pattern, such that late pregnancy was characterized by more egalitarian household roles than was found in early pregnancy or postpartum. Marital adjustment mean scores suggested that marriages were functioning well at 3-4 momnths postpartum. Fathers' greater involvement with the baby was associated with better marital and parental adjustment, whereas fathers' postpartum participation in feminine household tasks was correlated with lower adjustment. In contrast to father, mothers' greater participation in baby care tasks was associated with lower marital adjustment. Mothers usually perceived changes in marriage and lifestyle due to the baby as more bothersome than did fathers. Adjustment to parenthood and marital adjustment measures were more interrelated more frequently for fathers than mothers. These findings underscore the complex associations among husbands' and wives' household roles, marital adjustment, involvement with baby, and adjustment to parenthood.     

Psychosocial Factors Associated with Patterns of Smoking Surrounding Pregnancy in Fragile Families

Although research has documented factors associated with maternal smoking, we need a more in-depth understanding of the risk factors associated with changes in smoking behaviors during the postpartum period. We investigate smoking patterns during pregnancy and 1 year postpartum as a function of relevant psychosocial factors. We use data on 3,522 postpartum mothers from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to analyze the predictors of smoking among mothers who did not smoke during pregnancy but smoked at 1 year postpartum, mothers who smoked both during pregnancy and postpartum, and mothers who did not smoke during either period. Our covariates are grouped into four categories of risk factors for smoking: socioeconomic status, health care, life course and health, and partner and social support. Postpartum mothers in our sample were more likely to smoke throughout or after their pregnancies if they had only a high school education or less, had a household income three or more times below the poverty line, had public or no health insurance, breastfed for less than 5 months, were not married to the infant’s father, if the infant’s father currently smoked, and if they attended religious services less than once a week. Mental health problems were consistently associated with an increased risk of constant and postpartum smoking relative to non-smoking. Psychosocial factors play a role in postpartum smoking, but they have a stronger effect in predicting smoking that persists throughout pregnancy and the first year postpartum.     

Poor adolescent expectant mothers: can we assess their potential for child abuse?

PURPOSE: To explore the correlates of high scores on the Child Abuse Potential Inventory in adolescent expectant mothers. METHODS: Child Abuse Potential scores and data on demographics, pregnancy desire, history of maltreatment, psychological functioning, and perceived social support were obtained by self-report and semi-structured interview. The sample consisted of 50 poor single adolescents recruited from prenatal clinics during the second half of the pregnancy. The relationships among the variables were assessed using Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple regression strategies. RESULTS: Higher Child Abuse Potential scores were associated with higher maternal psychological distress, maternal history of psychiatric diagnosis, and lack of perceived support by the father of the baby. Older pregnant teenagers were more likely to report childhood history of maltreatment, higher psychological distress, and perceived and expected less support by the maternal mother. Expectant mothers who were raised by a single parent were more likely to have a history of childhood maltreatment, less likely to live with the father of the baby during their pregnancy and to expect less support from him. CONCLUSIONS: Child Abuse Potential scores, obtained during pregnancy in a sample of poor single adolescents provide a marker of maternal prenatal functioning and perceived social support. Further studies are warranted to validate prenatal use of the Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAPI), which may help identify populations at particularly high risk for child abuse during pregnancy and inform strategies for early preventive interventions. Adolescent education on family planning, child rearing, and social support programs should address the importance of the fathers' role.     

Association between contraceptive discontinuation and pregnancy intentions in Guatemala

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether contraceptive discontinuation is associated with pregnancies that are conceived earlier than desired (mistimed) or are not wanted at the time of conception (unwanted). METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2002 Guatemala National Maternal and Child Health Survey. Pregnancies within the three years prior to and at the time of the survey (April 1999-November 2002) were classified as either "intended," "mistimed," or "unwanted." The key independent variable was whether the woman had used contraception within 12 months of the pregnancy and, for those who had used it, the reason for discontinuation (either to get pregnant or for another reason). A multinomial logistic analysis was used to determine the degree of association of discontinuation with pregnancy intentions. RESULTS: One of every five mistimed pregnancies and one of every six unwanted pregnancies followed discontinuations that were for reasons other than to become pregnant (e.g., contraceptive failure, side effects, and health concerns). Discontinuations for reasons other than to become pregnant were shown to be positively and significantly associated with a reported mistimed pregnancy (coefficient = 2.15; standard error = 0.27) or unwanted pregnancy (2.68; 0.37) compared to an intended pregnancy. Pregnancies preceded by discontinuations for reasons other than to become pregnant were also more likely to be reported as mistimed or unwanted than pregnancies of women who were not using contraception during the year prior to pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to increase contraceptive continuation. Any program should include an increased effort to reduce contraceptive failure and better address the side effects and the health concerns that women have that can lead to discontinuation. Non-users who want to delay or limit births should also be identified and targeted for outreach in order to reduce unintended pregnancies.     

Are pregnant adolescents stigmatized by pregnancy?

PurposeTo identify prevalence and correlates, including substance use and exposure to violence, of feeling stigmatized by being pregnant as an adolescent.MethodsA total of 925 low-income African-American, Mexican-American, and Caucasian pregnant adolescents aged ≤ 18 years were interviewed on the postpartum ward of a university hospital within 48 hours of delivery. Correlates of stigma were identified among self-reported behaviors such as substance use, exposure to violence, family support and criticism, as well as reproductive and sociodemographic characteristics.ResultsTwo out of five adolescents (39.1%) reported feeling stigmatized by their pregnancy. As compared with their nonstigmatized peers, stigmatized adolescents were more likely to report having seriously considered abortion, being afraid to tell parents about pregnancy, feeling that parents/teachers thought pregnancy a mistake, and feeling abandoned by the fathers of their babies. Stepwise logistic regression revealed the following correlates independently associated with feeling stigmatized: white race/ethnicity, not being legally/common-law married or engaged to the baby’s father, feelings of social isolation, aspirations to complete college, experiencing verbal abuse or being fearful of being hurt by other teenagers, and experiencing family criticism. In contrast, greater self-esteem and having dropped out of school before conception were protective of reporting feelings of stigma.ConclusionsSignificant proportions of pregnant adolescents feel stigmatized by pregnancy and are at increased risk of social isolation and abuse. These young women may need special attention during and after pregnancy to develop concrete strategies to care for themselves and their children to complete their education and avoid becoming clinically depressed.     

Smoking and Smoking Cessation During Pregnancy. An Analysis of a Hospital Based Cohort of Women in Romania

Perinatal smoking is associated with a wide range of negative reproductive and pregnancy outcomes. The aim of the current study was to examine the prevalence and characteristics of women who report smoking prenatally and quit during pregnancy in a large sample of Romanian women. Understanding which women are more likely to quit will contribute to public health knowledge that will help more women stop smoking prior to or during pregnancy and prevent relapse postpartum. This cross-sectional analysis was conducted based on cross-sectional data collected between May 2012 and April 2015 as part of a cohort study of pregnancy implemented in six clinical settings in central Romania (N?=?2370). Approximately 28?% of the sample reported smoking in the 6 months prior to learning they were pregnant. Half of the women who reported smoking 6 months before learning of their pregnancy, also reported that they stopped smoking by the time of the interview. Overall, tobacco consumption decreased from a sample mode of 10 cigarettes/day (range: 1–30) before pregnancy, to a sample mode of 5 cigarettes/day (range: 1–25) at the time of the interview. Women who quit had a higher socioeconomic position, were more likely to live in urban areas, partnered, primigravid, nulliparous, and reported lower anxiety and more social support. The combination of a socioeconomic gradient, less anxiety, and more social support suggests that efforts should be increased to target lower income, less educated, multigravid, and multiparous women and to develop programs that heighten social support and alleviate anxiety.     

Predictors of Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy and Maintenance Postpartum in Low-Income Women

Objective: To describe factors associated with smoking status of low-income women during pregnancy and postpartum. Methods: Data from a randomized clinical trial were used to conduct separate analyses on 327 women who smoked at baseline (time at enrollment) and for whom smoking status was available at delivery, and on 109 women who reported not smoking at delivery (quit spontaneously or after study enrollment) and for whom smoking status was available at 6-months postpartum. Salivary cotinine was used to assess the accuracy of self-reported smoking status for the sample as a whole. Data were collected between May 1997 and November 2000. Results: 18% of the 327 baseline smokers stopped smoking before delivery. Cessation was less likely in older women, those reporting Medicaid coverage (vs. commercial or no insurance), who were at a later week of pregnancy at baseline, were more addicted, had a husband/partner who smoked, and did not receive the study intervention. 37% of the 109 women who reported not smoking at delivery maintained abstinence at 6-months postpartum. Factors associated with abstinence were later week of pregnancy at baseline and quitting spontaneously with pregnancy, while women who lived with a smoker were less likely to report abstinence. Spontaneous quitters were less likely to relapse by 6 months postpartum than women who quit smoking later in pregnancy. Conclusions: Partner participation in smoking cessation programs for pregnant and postpartum women merits exploration. Lower relapse rates among spontaneous quitters indicate a need to foster an environment that encourages quitting at pregnancy.     

Low-income pregnant adolescents and their infants: dietary findings and health outcomes

Dietary and other health-related data were obtained for 99 low-income, pregnant adolescents aged 13 to 19 years and their infants who were enrolled in the Teen Pregnancy Service (TPS). The dietetic services provided through TPS are highlighted for this sample of teens, 97% of whom were eligible for the WIC program. Average gestational age at time of enrollment for prenatal care was 18 weeks; 59% of the sample was anemic (hemoglobin value less than 120 gm/L). The average number of servings teens consumed each day from the four food groups was as follows: bread/grain, 5.0; milk, 2.8; meat, 2.8; and fruit/vegetable, 2.3. Teens who were overweight before pregnancy had heavier infants (mean = 3,344 gm) than their underweight peers (mean = 2,770 gm). Teens who gained 24 lb or less during pregnancy and who gave birth to full-term infants had infants with significantly lower birth weights (mean = 3,094 gm, p less than .008) than those who gained at least 25 lb (mean = 3,356 gm). Teens who smoked also had infants with lower birth weights than teens who did not smoke. Most teens bottle-fed their infants (82%). On the basis of our data, we conclude that low-income pregnant teens are likely to be at dietary risk. Dietary work with low-income pregnant adolescents is challenging and requires a thorough knowledge base about adolescent pregnancy, coupled with the ability to adapt traditional dietary counseling practices to meet the unique needs of these clients.     

Comprehensive School-Based Services for Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents in West Dallas, Texas

A cohort of 339 Black (n = 210), Hispanic (n = 118), and other (n = 11) adolescent mothers in Dallas, Texas, were followed from the start of their pregnancy through the school year of the delivery to assess differences in numbers of prenatal care visits, postpartum care, repeat deliveries, and school continuation rates. Approximately one-half the teens received reproductive services at a comprehensive, school-based clinic and one-half at a categorical (Title XX) family planning and prenatal care clinic. Adolescents attending the school-based clinic were more likely to be in school at conception and averaged more prenatal visits than those served by the categorical provider. However, during the pregnancy and following the delivery, school dropout rates for the two sets of teens converged. School continuation rates were higher among a subset of adolescents attending the Dallas Independent School District school for pregnant teens than among other teens. Hispanic teens were two times more likely than their Black counterparts to drop out of school. No differences were found in repeat birth rates, by ethnicity, clinic site, or school attended.     

Why do women have abortions?

Most respondents to a survey of abortion patients in 1987 said that more than one factor had contributed to their decision to have an abortion; the mean number of reasons was nearly four. Three-quarters said that having a baby would interfere with work, school or other responsibilities, about two-thirds said they could not afford to have a child and half said they did not want to be a single parent or had relationship problems. A multivariate analysis showed young teenagers to be 32 percent more likely than women 18 or over to say they were not mature enough to raise a child and 19 percent more likely to say their parents wanted them to have an abortion. Unmarried women were 17 percent more likely than currently married women to choose abortion to prevent others from knowing they had had sex or became pregnant. Of women who had an abortion at 16 or more weeks' gestation, 71 percent attributed their delay to not having realized they were pregnant or not having known soon enough the actual gestation of their pregnancy. Almost half were delayed because of trouble in arranging the abortion, usually because they needed time to raise money. One-third did not have an abortion earlier because they were afraid to tell their partner or parents that they were pregnant. A multivariate analysis revealed that respondents under age 18 were 39 percent more likely than older women to have delayed because they were afraid to tell their parents or partner.     

Teen contraceptive decisions: childbearing intentions are the tip of the iceberg

OBJECTIVE: To validate a model we developed while trying to understand why pregnant teens so often report that they did not want to become pregnant and could have obtained contraceptives before they conceived. METHOD: The study enrolled a racially/ethnically diverse group of 351 teenagers. Participants completed a questionnaire that asked about teen pregnancy risk factors, the expected effects of childbearing, the desire to remain non-pregnant, deterrents to contraceptive use, and contraceptive plans. RESULTS: Most participants were capable of using contraceptives but at high risk for unintended conception because they exhibited numerous sociodemographic risk factors, were unsure that pregnancy would affect their lives adversely, and were ambivalent about remaining non-pregnant. Believing a boyfriend wanted a baby and the anticipated effect of childbearing on 5 specific aspects of life explained 63% of the variance in the desire to remain non-pregnant, which, in conjunction with fears about using contraceptives, explained 20.5% of the variance in future contraceptive plans. CONCLUSIONS: Our new findings that expectations about the effect of childbearing explain the desire to remain non-pregnant may well help providers determine why teenagers who do not plan to conceive are often willing to allow themselves to do so by default. Further research is needed, as the model did not explain contraceptive decision-making adequately.     

Perceived risks and reasons to smoke cigarettes during pregnancy among Alaska native women

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of the risks of smoking and reasons Alaska Native women give for smoking during pregnancy.

Design: A total of 118 women (54 smokers, 64 non-smokers) enrolled in a biomarker study and completed a baseline interview asking about their concerns regarding tobacco use while pregnant and reasons why pregnant women might smoke during pregnancy. Responses were collapsed into six categories of perceived risks of smoking and eight categories of reasons to smoke during pregnancy.

Results: The majority of both pregnant non-smokers and smokers (72.6% and 60.4%) agreed that smoking during pregnancy could negatively impact the health of their baby. However, non-smokers were more likely than smokers (77.4% vs. 58.5%) to view smoking during pregnancy as a risk factor for the baby’s development (p?=?.029). Both non-smokers and smokers identified addiction as a reason for smoking during pregnancy (82.8% and 63%); however, non-smokers were more likely than smokers to state this was a reason for use (p?=?.015). Seventy-three percent of the entire sample reported a reason to smoke in pregnancy was to help manage negative affect.

Conclusion: Results from this work may be helpful in advancing research by identifying targets for intervention specific to Alaska Native women receiving prenatal care in Anchorage, Alaska.     

Socio-economic determinants and self-reported depressive symptoms during postpartum period

The researchers' aims were to estimate the prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms in Italy. Cross-sectional data from the survey, "Health and use of health care in Italy" were analyzed. The authors focused on 5,812 women, pregnant some time during five years before the survey. Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate risk factors independently associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. Evaluation of seasonal trends was also performed.In the total sample, 23.5% (n = 1,365) reported having suffered postpartum depressive symptoms: 20.7% experienced baby blues, and 2.8% postpartum depression. Factors significantly associated with baby blues were, among others, living in northern or central areas (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.88; 95%CI 1.57-2.15 and 1.40; 95%CI 1.20-1.63, respectively), history of depression (aOR 1.34; 95%CI 1.15-1.56), and attendance at antenatal classes (aOR 1.13; 95%CI 1.04-1.22). Factors significantly associated with postpartum depression were: anamnesis of depression (aOR 3.32; 95%CI 2.69-4.09), gaining more than 16 kg of weight during pregnancy (aOR 1.48; 95%CI 1.03-2.12), and undergoing a cesarean section (planned: aOR 1.56; 95%CI 1.05-2.29; unplanned: aOR 1.78; 95%CI 1.16-2.73). Multiparity was a protective factor both for baby blues (aOR 0.80; 95%CI 0.70-0.91), and postpartum depression (aOR 0.71; 95%CI 0.51-0.98). No clear seasonality was observed for postpartum depression, while for baby blues a certain aggregation of events was registered during the central months of the year. The authors' study highlighted variables associated with baby blues and postpartum depression to target screening for women for postpartum depressive symptoms.