Postpartum Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To study the prevalence of maternal depressive symptoms in the immediate postpartum period (18 years old enrolled at the Municipal University Hospital of Sao Bernardo do Campo. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and clinical history were administered to 90 patients in the first week of the immediate postpartum period between June and December 2021. Results: An Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score > 10 was observed in 39 (43.3%) of the postpartum women. From a multivariate analysis, the factors associated with a score > 10 on the scale were: "having no belief/spirituality" with 83% (95% CI 1.20-2.81, p 10 on the EPDS had the following common associated factors: "having no belief/spirituality", "having had more than one pregnancy", "having a previous episode of depression", and "having a previous episode of anxiety". These findings indicate the need for greater attention from health professionals to these positive factors.