The role of infant's gender and other psycho-ocial variables on women with postpartum depression in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The preference for male child abounds in many cultures across the globe and not having a male child serves as a source of worry for a woman in the postpartum period which might contribute to depression. There is dearth of  information on the role of infant's gender and other psycho-social factors associated with pregnancy and postpartum depression in Jos Nigeria.
Aim: This study aimed to determine the association between the role of infant's gender and other psychosocial factors, and postpartum depression.
Methods: Five hundred and fifty women were recruited in a cross sectional study that involved a two stage procedure in a Tertiary Hospital in Jos, Nigeria. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) questionnaire and the Depression Module of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV axis I Diagnosis (SCID) were used.
Results: One hundred and sixteen (21.8%) participants were found to have  postpartum depression among the study population. Though the gender of the infant was not statistically associated with postpartum depression, however, the expected gender of baby by both parents [new mothers (p=0.002) and spouses (p<0.001)] were significantly associated with postpartum depression among participants.
Conclusion: The infant's gender expectation from both parents could serve as a determinant for postpartum depression of women of childbearing age.

KeyWords: Infant's Gender, Psycho-Social Variables, Postpartum Depression