Unplanned pregnancy and risk of peripartum depression: a prospective cohort study in Saudi pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic

Abstract

Background: Few studies have been conducted on unintended pregnancies and peripartum depression in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between unplanned pregnancies and peripartum depression among pregnant women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This prospective cohort study included pregnant women attending an antenatal care clinic in 2021. The London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy was used to assess the prevalence of unplanned pregnancy, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess antenatal and postnatal depression. Results: A total of 236 participants were included, of which 25.8% had unplanned pregnancies, 36.0% had ambivalent pregnancies, and 38.1% had planned pregnancies. EPDS results revealed that 77.5% and 73.35% of the females were negative for antenatal and postnatal depression, respectively. A history of stressful events (P=0.001), husband (P=0.020), and family support (P=0.007) was significantly associated with antenatal EPDS score, whereas age (P=0.005), type of delivery (P=0.019), and family support (P=0.031) were significantly associated with the postnatal score. Conclusion: Unplanned pregnancies may affect the perinatal mental health of women. We demonstrated the importance of family or husbands’ support for women with perinatal depression. In addition, our research showed that pregnancy at an early age is a risk factor for postnatal depression. Therefore, these women should be closely monitored not only during their pregnancy but also during the first postpartum year.