Maternity blues in Athens, Greece: a study during the first 3 days after delivery.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although maternity blues have been studied in many countries worldwide the factors that influence the occurrence of this clinical entity are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence, time course and symptomatology of maternity blues in a Greek urban environment as well as the relation of maternity blues with certain clinical and sociodemographic factors. METHOD: A study of a sample of 402 women that were recruited during the first day after delivery. Each woman completed the Kennerley's Blues Questionnaire on a daily basis for the first 3 days of puerpartum. Clinical and sociodemographic data were obtained through questionnaires and personal interview. RESULTS: 179 (44.5%) women experienced severe maternity blues during the first 3 days after delivery. Delivery by caesarian section (P=0.006), stressful events during pregnancy (P=0.02), depressive feelings the last month prior to delivery (P=0.002), anxiety on the day of delivery (P=0.001) and hypochondriasis (P=0.001) were the factors that were found to relate significantly to maternity blues. CONCLUSION: The women's emotional condition prior and after delivery, delivery via caesarotomy, as well as fears concerning somatic health had strong impact on the occurrence of maternity blues.