Postpartum Depression during the Syrian Conflict and Economic Crisis and Covid-19 Outbreak in Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital, Damascus Syria

Abstract

Abstract Background The Syrian crisis and bad economic situations in Syria and the COVID − 19 pandemic have had there's effects on Syrian mental status, including mothers who have given birth during these bad conditions, leading to increased postpartum depression prevalence, especially because of the poor response to deal with such threatened problems. Methods A Prospective longitudinal study was carried out between 13/11/2020 and 27/4/2021 in Damascus city (the capital of Syria). We evaluated the postpartum depression levels experienced by women who were seen in the Maternity Hospital of Damascus by using the Arabic version of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) after birth and 6 weeks after birth. Results A total of 402 participants were involved in this study and were screened for possible PPD using the Eden Burg Postpartum Depression Scale at a cutoff point of 10 once after giving birth and 6 weeks later, only 379 participants left after 6 weeks. The prevalence of postpartum depression was 46% after birth and 25.3% after 6 weeks. Women's house devastation (Sig.0 .033, 95% [CI]: 1.043–2.801), family member loss or injury (Sig. 0.018, 95% [CI]: 1.110–3.008), and female gender (Sig. 0 .034, 95% [CI]: 0.162–0.931) were significantly associated with PPD. Conclusions It is very important to detect possible PPD and provide specific services and treatment especially during the Syrian crisis and COVID − 19 pandemic and the bad economic situation, as it is a stressful period, particularly during puerperium.