Prenatal Psychiatric Symptoms as Predictors of Postnatal Psychiatric Symptoms among Primary and Multi-Gravida Women

OBJECTIVE The study aimed to examine effect of prenatal anxiety and depression on the prediction of postnatal anxiety and depression among pregnant women. In addition, to find out mean differences in prenatal and postnatal anxiety and depression among primary and multigravida pregnant women. METHODS This study was conducted at Sargodha Pakistan, on a total number of 100 pregnant women as participants. The sample size was calculated by using sampling adequacy test which confirmed that the sample of 100 was sufficient to carry out the statistical analysis for the present study. Data was collected by administering Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. SPSS-23 was used for data analysis. The study has been completed in one year, from October, 2017 to November, 2018. RESULTS Results indicated prenatal anxiety has significant positive correlation with prenatal depression (p< .001), postnatal anxiety (p< .001) and postnatal depression (p< .001). The prenatal depression has significant positive correlation with postnatal anxiety (p< .001) and postnatal depression (p< .001). Results also indicated that postnatal anxiety has significant positive correlation with postnatal depression (p< .001). CONCLUSIONS In this study, findings suggested that there is significant relationship between prenatal and postnatal psychiatric symptoms.