[Effect of Vimala infant massage on mothers with postpartum depression].

BACKGROUND

Postpartum depression (PPD) significantly affects maternal and infant health. Infant massage (IM) can help reduce depressive symptoms, feelings of guilt, strengthen maternal confidence, and improve the mother-child bond.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of a Vimala IM intervention in newborns (NB) on their mothers with PPD.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Quasi-experimental study. Mothers aged 18 to 45 years with term and late preterm newborns were included. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was applied within the first 8 hours postpartum, and mothers were divided into 2 groups based on their score: with and without PPD. Both groups received training on Vimala IM, and 72 hours postpartum the EPDS was administered again.

RESULTS

A total of 90 mothers were analyzed. Before discharge, 23.33% exhibited symptoms of PPD, higher than the global reported rate (17.22%). After the Vimala massage intervention, the proportion of mothers with depressive symptoms decreased to 11.11% (p = 0.02). The item related to self-blame showed a delta of -34 in affirmative responses post-intervention. The absence of a partner showed risk for PPD, odds ratio (OR) 4.00 (1.03-15.51) p = 0.03.

CONCLUSIONS

Vimala IM is an effective intervention in reducing PPD symptoms, particularly self-blame. The absence of a partner increased the risk of developing PPD by up to 4 times.