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Research article
The need for additional mental health support for women in the postpartum period in the times of epidemic crisis
Tamara Zofia Walczak-Kozłowska
University of Gdańsk
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9781-7281
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: This retrospective study aimed to identify possible intensification of mental health difficulties among women seeking support in the postpartum period during the epidemic state in Poland. We assumed that the epidemic crisis, social isolation, and restrictions in hospitals which affect pregnant and postpartum women - lack of family labors, lack of the possibility to be with the newborn when he/she is hospitalized, may increase fear and reduce psychosocial resources of women, hinder their normal process of transition to motherhood and thus contribute to the intensified severity of depressive symptoms.
Methods: The study participants were women seeking support at the on-line platform of the project ‘Next Stop: Mum’, which is a part of the postpartum depression prevention’s program implemented by the Ministry of Health in Poland, and enables remote self-screening for the severity of the postpartum depression symptoms with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale developed by Cox and collaborators. The analyzed data in this study were obtained from 139 women: 61 filled forms from October 1 - November 10, 2019 (non-epidemic period), and 78 filled forms from February 20 - March 30 (beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic), 2020.
Results: A statistically significant difference in the severity of postpartum depression symptoms were observed among women making a self-assessment with EPDS scale at the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic in Poland (M = 15.71; SD = 6.23), compared to the pre-epidemic neutral period (M = 13.56; SD = 6.46).
Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the epidemic crisis may be associated with an increased need for additional caution and support of women's mental health in the postpartum period. We believe that recommendations for medical staff, policy, and families of women struggling with postpartum depression symptoms during crisis should be widespread as the second wave of COVID-19 disease may develop in the autumn-winter 2020 and spring 2021.
Keywords
epidemic crisis, postpartum depression, motherhood, affective disorder, Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, covid-19
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On 29 Dec, 2020
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On 09 Dec, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 09 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 08 Dec, 2020
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On 05 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
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Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 28 Nov, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 16 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 04 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 24 Oct, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 24 Oct, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 23 Oct, 2020
Editor assigned
On 22 Oct, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 21 Oct, 2020
Editor invited
On 21 Oct, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 17 Sep, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 16 Sep, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 01 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 16 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 09 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 07 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 07 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 06 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 20 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 19 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 19 Jul, 2020
First submitted
On 17 Jul, 2020
Metrics
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PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Maternal & Fetal Medicine
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
The need for additional mental health support for women in the postpartum period in the times of epidemic crisis
Tamara Zofia Walczak-Kozłowska
University of Gdańsk
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9781-7281
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 4
Posted 13 Jan, 2021
No community comments so far
Submission checks complete
On 05 Jan, 2021
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 29 Dec, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 25 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 09 Dec, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 09 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 08 Dec, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 07 Dec, 2020
Editor assigned
On 05 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 05 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 05 Dec, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 28 Nov, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 16 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 04 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 24 Oct, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 24 Oct, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 23 Oct, 2020
Editor assigned
On 22 Oct, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 21 Oct, 2020
Editor invited
On 21 Oct, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 17 Sep, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 16 Sep, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 01 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 16 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 09 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 07 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 07 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 06 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 20 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 19 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 19 Jul, 2020
First submitted
On 17 Jul, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Maternal & Fetal Medicine
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: This retrospective study aimed to identify possible intensification of mental health difficulties among women seeking support in the postpartum period during the epidemic state in Poland. We assumed that the epidemic crisis, social isolation, and restrictions in hospitals which affect pregnant and postpartum women - lack of family labors, lack of the possibility to be with the newborn when he/she is hospitalized, may increase fear and reduce psychosocial resources of women, hinder their normal process of transition to motherhood and thus contribute to the intensified severity of depressive symptoms.
Methods: The study participants were women seeking support at the on-line platform of the project ‘Next Stop: Mum’, which is a part of the postpartum depression prevention’s program implemented by the Ministry of Health in Poland, and enables remote self-screening for the severity of the postpartum depression symptoms with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale developed by Cox and collaborators. The analyzed data in this study were obtained from 139 women: 61 filled forms from October 1 - November 10, 2019 (non-epidemic period), and 78 filled forms from February 20 - March 30 (beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic), 2020.
Results: A statistically significant difference in the severity of postpartum depression symptoms were observed among women making a self-assessment with EPDS scale at the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic in Poland (M = 15.71; SD = 6.23), compared to the pre-epidemic neutral period (M = 13.56; SD = 6.46).
Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the epidemic crisis may be associated with an increased need for additional caution and support of women's mental health in the postpartum period. We believe that recommendations for medical staff, policy, and families of women struggling with postpartum depression symptoms during crisis should be widespread as the second wave of COVID-19 disease may develop in the autumn-winter 2020 and spring 2021.
Figure 1