Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to identify the 14 maternal-infant characteristics (MIC) that contribute to the risk of postpartum depression (PPD), as measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Using secondary data collected from the FDA’s Infant Feeding Practices Study II (IFPS II) from 2005 through 2007, the following fourteen MIC were identifed: poverty level, age, household density, parity, prepregnancy BMI, prenatal alcohol use, prenatal tobacco use, prenatal vitamin use, gestational diabetes, prenatal care initiation, mode of delivery, infant birth weight, having an infant with long-term medical problems, and breast feeding initiation. This was a non- experimental descriptive study, using the conceptual framework of the Life Course Health Development (LCHD) model. The association and the risk of the MIC and PPD were analyzed. The sample consisted of 2,299 mothers who had given birth to a live infant, weighing five pounds or greater who completed the EPDS. Approximately 19.4 % had depressive symptoms of PPD. Poverty level, age, prepregnancy BMI, prenatal tobacco use, and having an infant with long-term medical problems were found to have significant associations with PPD. In addition, poverty level, prepregnancy BMI, prenatal tobacco use and having an infant with long-term medical problems were siginicant as predictors of PPD. Each of these MIC influcence the health trajectory of a women in relation to her life course health trajectory. Future research relating to other MIC should be anlayzed in relation to the LCHD. Research related to diverse ethnic populations, women diagnosed pre-existing medical conditions and women diagnosed with pre-pregnancy depressive disorders. These five MIC have implications for evidence based practice, in relation to current clinical practice in obstetric and pediatric settings especially targeting any of these mothers during the prenatal period as well as screening for further follow-up during the postpartum period. Effective implementation of policy changes in clinical practice and evidence based practice with PPD, will impact the health trajectory of a women’s life health course.
