Takele Tiki
Introduction: Worldwide, while higher prevalence levels of maternal depressions are reported in LMICs (20%–39%). Most maternal deaths (99% of global maternal deaths) occur in LMICs due to undetected and/or inadequately treated complication such as infection, hemorrhage, unsafe abortion, hypertension and obstructed labor. Objective: To assess the prevalence antenatal depression symptoms and associated factors among pregnant women in west Shoa zone, central of Ethiopia, 2018 Method: In community -based cross-sectional study, 874 women in the second or third trimesters of pregnancy were recruited in west shoa Zone, central Ethiopia. Depressive symptoms were measured using a locally validated version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The association between antenatal depressive symptoms and socio demographic, perceived stress and obstetrics condition by using binary regression
Result: Prevalence of antenatal depression symptoms was 32.3% among pregnant women living in west Shewa zone. Monthly family income between less than 500 ETB [3.19; 95% CI (1.47, 6.96)], rural residence [4.44(2.28, 8.64)], unplanned pregnancy [1.52; 95 %( 1.04, 2.21)] and who have history of abortion in life time [5.13(2.42, 10.85)], were significantly associated with depression symptoms. Conclusion: Although clinical confirmation for antenatal depression is not conducted, one third of the pregnant women were depressed symptoms in west shoa zone based on PHQ-9. Others low level monthly income, rural residence, unplanned pregnancy, and having previous history of abortion in life time were factors independently associated with antenatal depression. Promotion of family planning and integration of mental health service with existing maternal health care as well as strengthening the referral system among public health centers were the recalled interventions to prevent antenatal depression in west shoa zone health facilities.