METHODS: This is a retrospective comparative cohort study design. Two hundred and fifty Malaysian women were part of a previous study examining the prevalence of PND in a multiracial country and the effects of postnatal rituals. All women were at least 6 weeks post-partum when asked to complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Sociodemographic and birth data were obtained.
RESULTS: Data collected were divided into two groups: 55 emergency delivery and 191 non-emergency delivery. There were four missing data. There was no significant difference in the mean age, parity, gestational period, baby birthweight, 5 min baby Apgar score and EPDS scores of the two groups. However, the analysis of PND indicated that women with emergency delivery had a relative risk of 1.81 compared with women with non-emergency delivery. The comparison of the two groups using chi2 indicated a significant (chi2 = 3.94, d.f. = 1, P = 0.04) increase in the presence of PND in the emergency delivery.
CONCLUSION: When compared with women having non-emergency delivery, women having emergency delivery had about twice the risk of developing PND. Special attention to this group appears warranted.
METHODS: A hundred and fifty-four women who were 6 weeks postpartum attending the postnatal clinic between May and July 1995 at Maternal and Child Health Clinic, Seremban, Malaysia. Maternal socio-demography, depression by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), postnatal care and practices e.g. pantang larang (prohibited behaviour and practices), diet and partnering were evaluated.
RESULTS: Postnatal depression was 3.9%. Indians had the highest rate at 8.5% as compared to Malays (3.0%) and none in Chinese (p < 0.05). There were no demographic differences in the study groups. Average score of EPDS was 4.05 which ranged from 0 to 20. During the confinement 85.7% of women took special diet; 64.3% followed pantang larang and 78.8% had someone to look after them. The incidence of postnatal depression is low in Malaysia at 3.9%. Majority of Malaysian women still observed the traditional postnatal beliefs and practices.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This cross-sectional study will recruit 459 postpartum mothers during their 4-week postnatal follow-up in five selected public health clinics in Perak from September 2019 to May 2020. Participants will be mothers aged 18 years and above at 4 weeks postdelivery who are able to understand the English and Malay languages. Non-Malaysians and mothers with known diagnosis of psychotic disorders will be excluded from the study. Sociodemographic information and possible risk factors of the participants will be captured via a set of validated questionnaires, postpartum depression (PPD) will be measured using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale questionnaire and general depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress will be measured using the 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. Data analysis will be conducted using SPSS V.25.0 (IBM). Besides descriptive statistics, multivariable regression analyses will be done to identify possible risk factors and their independent associations with depression (PPD and general depressive symptoms, combined and separately), anxiety and stress.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee, Ministry of Health Malaysia on 7 August 2019. Results of this study will be reported and shared with the local health stakeholders and disseminated through conference proceedings and journal publications.
REGISTRATION NUMBER: This study is registered in the Malaysian National Medical Research Register with the ID: NMRR-19-868-47647.