Antenatal Care Status in Pregnant Women and Evaluation of Relationship Between Antenatal Care and Depression Symptoms

Abstract

Objective: The aim of our study is to determine the antenatal care status of pregnant women in the last trimester and to determine whether there is a relationship between antenatal care parameters and depression sypmtoms.

Methods: The study was cross-sectional and was performed between September 201 and January 2019 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Farabi Hospital, Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine. The study included 135 last trimester pregnant women who were admitted to the outpatient clinic, did not have any chronic disease, did not get pregnant with assisted reproductive techniques and had not had major depression before. Beck Depression Scale (BDS) and a questionnaire consisting of 52 questions, which was prepared based on the prenatal care management guide of the Ministry of Health and assesses the antenatal care status and socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, was applied with the face-to-face interview technique. Each “yes” response to the questions asked about antenatal care receiving status was scored as “1 point” and every “no” response was scored as “0 point” and “consulting score” over 15 points and “procedures score” over 24 points were calculated.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 30,2±5,4 years. 98.5% (n = 133) of the pregnant women came to the doctor in the first 14 weeks. Only 2 pregnant women had less than 4 visits. 72,6% (n = 98) of pregnant women had a sufficient number of visits. The average counseling score of the pregnant women was 7.8 ± 4.1 and the mean of the procedures score was 18.6 ± 2.6. The most consulted subject was the use of medication with 79.3% (n = 107) and the subject with the least consultancy was oral and dental health with 25.9% (n = 35). All of the pregnant women had urine and blood analysis and ultrasonography (usg). The least procedure was breast examination with 10.4% (n = 14). It was observed that 27.4% (n = 37) of the pregnant women had depression symptoms. While there was no statistically significant relationship between BDS score and total number of visits (p = 0.843), counseling score (p = 0.108) and the number of procedures score (p = 0.166), a significant relationship was found between thinking of receiving adequate care and BDS score (p = 0.026 ).

Conclusion: In our study, we found that most of the pregnant women received adequate antenatal care in terms of the number of procedures and visits, but that they could not receive the counseling services adequately and there is a significant relationship between thinking that she received adequate care and symptoms of depression. This may lead to primary care physicians who are responsible for the pregnancy. In this respect, studies and projects are needed to develop antenatal care services.