An unprecedented study carried out at the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (HCFMUSP) with 184 women who gave birth during the Covid-19 pandemic revealed that 38.8% of them had postpartum depression.
The rate is practically double the pre-pandemic period in Brazil, when it was around 20%, according to the medical literature.
The survey also showed that 14% of mothers had suicidal ideation during the period.
The survey was carried out through questionnaires given to women who were treated at Hospital das Clínicas at FMUSP and at Hospital Universitário da USP during the Covid-19 pandemic, which began in March 2020.
Among the main factors for postpartum depression reported by them were the concern about the possible lack of hospital beds, the absence of a partner and anxiety.
Suicidal ideation, on the other hand, was also associated, in addition to anxiety, with ways of receiving information about Covid-19, such as through friends.
“This is an extremely important study, which reveals other very serious consequences of the pandemic, in addition to the cases of Covid-19 itself. Going through pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum in such a difficult period for all of society, clearly ended up affecting pregnant and postpartum women,” says researcher Marco Aurélio Galleta, a professor in the obstetrics and gynecology department at FMUSP.
“We need to understand all the factors involved in order to provide them with the best possible assistance at this time,” observes Galleta.
According to the survey, factors such as fights at home, isolation time, preoccupation with childbirth and the news about the coronavirus were also associated with postpartum depression.
The number of hours per day of information about the pandemic also had an impact on the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women. Patients who had suicidal ideation sought, on average, 4.5 hours of daily information about the pandemic, against an average of two hours for those who did not present this condition.
Currently, the HCFMUSP’s IPq (Institute of Psychiatry) is looking for women with postpartum depression to test a new form of treatment through cell phone applications.
To participate, women must be between 18 and 40 years old, have had a child no more than 12 months ago, and suffer from symptoms of depression. You also need a cell phone for personal use and an internet connection.
Mothers must be available for four online meetings over two months. They will be accompanied by researchers in the area of mental health and child development at the USP School of Medicine.
Two mobile apps that help improve depression symptoms through psychological techniques will be tested. Online assessments will also be carried out by health professionals throughout the study.
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