PREVALENCE OF ANTENATAL DEPRESSION AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH MALE CHILD PREFERENCE AMONG EXPECTANT MOTHERS IN PESHAWAR, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Antenatal depression has been identified as a leading health risk among expectant mothers across the globe. Male child preference can double the risk of antenatal depression in expectant mothers.  The study aimed to determine the prevalence of antenatal depression and its association with male-child preference among expectant mothers visiting the outpatient department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Materials and Methods: This present analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at the outpatient department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, from September 2023 to December 2023. Pregnant women in trimesters two and three in their pregnancy, in good health, with no history of psychiatric illness, not taking any medication except iron and vitamin supplements, and willing to participate in the study were included. Subjects were approached by convenience sampling. The calculated sample consisted of 400 subjects, including expectant mothers. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was utilized for data collection. The association between factors and gender preference with antenatal depression was computed by using the Chi-Square test. P-values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: Out of 400 study participants, a 53.2% prevalence of antenatal depression was reported among expectant mothers. The husband's family reported a higher male child preference at 83%, followed by the women’s family, husband, and women at 73%, 69.2%, and 59.7%, respectively. Preference related to baby gender has been found statistically significant with antenatal depression. A significant association was established between antenatal depression and age, education level, and husband's education.

Conclusions: It is concluded that antenatal depression was prevalent in expectant mothers, and its significant association was established with male-child preference.