Stress, postpartum depression, and anxiety in mothers of neonates admitted in the NICU: A cross-sectional hospital-based study

Background: Mothers of neonates admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience heightened distress, anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms. Despite their prevalence, these conditions are generally neither recognized nor treated due to the constraints of time and concerns about the social acceptability of screening. Aim: To study stress, postpartum depression, and anxiety in mothers of neonates admitted to the NICU. Materials and Methods: One hundred forty consecutive mothers having preterm and low birth weight neonates in the NICU were taken for the study as cases and an equal number of mothers of full-term neonates matched for age and socioeconomic status (SES), were recruited as controls with their informed consent. Subjects were assessed with the Acute Stress Disorder Scale (ASDS), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptom Scale (PSS), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS). Results: Mothers of preterm neonates in NICU had significantly higher scores on the ASDS, PSS, EPDS, and PASS compared to controls. There was a significant association of ASDS and PSS scores with younger age, higher education, middle SES, joint family, urban residence, unplanned pregnancy, and male child. There was a significant association of the EPDS scores with lower SES, low education, unemployment, and male child. There was a significant association of the PASS scores with younger age, lower SES, and cesarean section. Conclusion: Mothers of preterm neonates admitted to the NICU compared to controls have significantly higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.