مجله زنان مامائی و نازائی ایران
سال شانزدهم شماره 55 (هفته اول تیر 1392)

According to World Health Organization report, depression is the top ranking among all diseases and its prevalence among women of childbearing age is about 10-20% even more. Unfortunately, maternal depression can affect infant growth and led them to several complications such as preterm labor and low birth weight. The aim of this study was to investigate correlation between maternal depression and neonatal anthropometric measurements. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 445 pregnant women who referred to Allavi hospital of Ardabil, Iran for delivery during winter 2010. Sampling was performed by simple method from available women. Data gathering tools were two questionnaires; socio-demographic questionnaire in content of history of previous pregnancies and neonatal measurements and another questionnaire was Beck depression questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 17), t-test and chi-square test. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Based on Beck test, 35 mothers (7.9%) suffered from moderate and moderate to high depression. No significant differences were found between depression and neonatal anthropometric measurements (weight (p=0.07), height (p=0.4) and head circumference (p=0.08)). Also, there were no significant differences between two groups of depressed and non depressed mothers in maternal body mass index (p=0.33), maternal Hb (p=0.82), maternal age (p=0.3), gestational age (p=0.2), gravidity (p=0.3), number of live child (p=0.21), prenatal care (p=0.4), unwanted pregnancy (p=1), birth time (p=0.5), neonatal sex (p=0.5), Fe and vitamin received (p=0.9), hyperemesis gravidarum (p=0.14), preterm birth (p=0.4), exposure to smoking (p=0.5). There are not statistically significant differences between maternal depression and neonatal anthropometric measurements. Neonatal anthropometric measurements have no significant difference in depressed and non-depressed mothers and physical growth of neonates is similar in both groups.

Sex problems are an important factor in marriage; Compatibility in sexual function in couples is the most important causes of success in marital relationship. The aim of this study was to survey sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction during postpartum in primiparous women. This was a single group cross sectional, descriptive analytic study conducted on 105 primipara women who referred to immunization unit of health care centers of Mashhad, Iran during 2009 and 2010. Data tools were demographic information questionnaire, sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 14.5) Fisher exact test and Spearman correlation coefficient. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. 73 cases (69.5%) had good sexual satisfaction and 82 women (78.1) had good marital satisfaction. There was significant direct linear relationship between sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction (r= 0.58, p<0.0001) as well as orgasm experience after delivery with sexual satisfaction (r= 0.54, p<0.0001) and marital satisfaction (r= 0.39, p<0.0001) had significant direct linear relationship. In women who had higher levels of sexual satisfaction, marital satisfaction was seen more. Also, women who experienced orgasm during sexual activity, reported more sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction.

In general population in response to fear, stress and anxiety stress-related hormones such as cortisol are changing. Labor is the most women's life event stressor. Over 90% of stress and anxiety during pregnancy is associated with birth process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of stress, anxiety and pain in salivary cortisol levels in first stage of labor on primiparous women. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 80 primiparous pregnant women who referred to Ommol Banin hospital in Mashhad, Iran in 2012. In the first stage of labor with dilatation of 7-5 cm visual analog scale of stress and pain and Spielberger anxiety questionnaire were completed for all subjects and saliva samples were taken to measure cortisol levels. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 11.5). P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. There was a significant correlation between salivary cortisol levels and mean levels of maternal stress on the visual scale (p=0.005) but the Pearson correlation test was not significant between mean salivary cortisol levels and mean levels of anxiety (p=0.173) and pain (p=0.581). Labor as the most stressful women’s physical and mental event affect on women’s physiological and psychological parameters during labor. Thus, stress during labor affect on cortisol index as an indicator of hypothalamic - pituitary axis activity and autonomic nervous system.