Pregnancy out Come and Postpartum Depression Among Women with Wanted and Unwanted Pregnancy

Unwanted pregnancy affects the physical and mental health of the mother and her child. Unwanted pregnancy may lead to an increase in gestational hypertension, diabetes, preterm delivery, low birth weight, and postpartum depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the incidence of pregnancy and pregnancy complications,  and postpartum depression in women referred to selected health care centers in Robat Karim in 2018-19.

This cohort study was carried out with the participation of mothers referring to health care centers of Robat Karim in 2018. A total of 240 pregnant women entered the study after the completion of the London questionnaire in the 26th week of the week, of which 120 were unwanted pregnant and 120 were asked in the pregnancy group. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire, Edinburgh postpartum depression and a checklist for collecting complications and pregnancy outcomes. Data were analyzed using SPSS-21 software, Chi-square and Chi-square tests.

The mean (SD) of mothers' age in the wanted pregnancy group was 30.1 (7.1) and 29.9 (7.2) in the unwanted group. The mean ± SD of depression scores 10 days after delivery in wanted group was less than unwanted group (10.1 ± 0.3 vs.13.1 ± 2.5, P <0.001) and, 30 days after delivery in the wanted group was less than unwanted pregnancy group (9.4 ± 3.2 vs.13.4 ± 2.5, P <0.001). Breast feeding in unwanted pregnancy was significantly less than wanted group (24.3% vs. 71.7%). The mean(SD) of newborn weight in wanted group was more than unwanted group (3135.3(220) vs. 3001(209.7), P<0.001). Hypertetion, diabetes, postpartum hemorrhage, NICU hospitalization and maternal hospitalization in ICU were not different in both groups but pre-eclampsia (7.5% vs. 1.7%, P=0.03) and preterm labor (17.5% vs. 5%, P=0.002) in unwanted group was more than wanted group.

The study showed that preterm delivery, lack of breastfeeding, preeclampsia, and postpartum depression were more in unwanted. Therefore, it can be concluded that wanted pregnancy is related to pregnancy complications, childbirth consequences and postpartum depression.