[Perinatal mental health in chilean mothers].

INTRODUCTION

Pregnancy and postpartum are periods of increased vulnerability for the development of maternal mental health disorders, that have a negative impact on maternal-infant interaction and health. Most studies have focused on depression, with anxiety being less studied, despite its high prevalence. Ob jectives: to evaluate the prevalence of positive screening for anxiety and depressive symptoms in a sample of women seen in public primary health centers in Chile, and the association of these symp toms with specific risk factors.

SUBJECTS AND METHOD: 158 women completed self-report questionnai res (Edinburgh Scale and Perinatal Anxiety Scale) during the third trimester of gestation and at 3 and 6 months postpartum. The prevalence and evolution of symptoms were analyzed, as well as possible differences in mental health associated with sociodemographic variables.

RESULTS

During the perina tal period, there was a prevalence between 41.3% and 44.3% of elevated anxiety symptoms and 13.9% to 20.9% for elevated symptoms of depression at 3 and 6 months, respectively. The study highlights the associations between perceived support, maternal educational level, and history of spontaneous abortion with maternal mental health during the transition to motherhood.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal perinatal symptoms of anxiety and depression are prevalent. Initiatives to identify women at risk and to promote protective factors, such as social support, are necessary to increase the well-being of women and their families.