The association between sociodemographic characteristics and postpartum depression symptoms among Arab-Bedouin women in Southern Israel.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence rates of postpartum depression (PPD) are 10 to 20% among various populations. Little is known about the characteristics of PPD among populations experiencing cultural transition. This study aimed to assess PPD symptoms (PPDS) prevalence and to identify risk factors unique to Arab-Bedouin women in southern Israel.

METHODS: The sample included 564 women who visited maternal and child health clinics. Sociodemographic characteristics were obtained using in-person interviews. PPDS were assessed using a validated Arabic translation of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Prevalence of PPDS was estimated using the cut-off score of EPDS ≥10; a more stringent cut-off score of EPDS ≥13 was used to define women with moderate to severe PPDS.

RESULTS: The prevalence of PPDS among women was 31%, of which 19.1% were assessed as having moderate to severe symptoms (EPDS ≥ 13). In a multivariate logistic regression, the variables associated with EPDS ≥10 were having an ill-infant odds ratio (OR) = 3.9, lack of husband's support (OR = 2.6), history of emotional problems (OR = 3.2), low income (OR = 1.6), low level of education (OR = 1.6), high marital conflicts (OR = 1.5), and an unplanned pregnancy (OR = 1.5).

CONCLUSION: In the generally understudied population of Arab-Bedouin women living in southern Israel, we found a high prevalence of PPDS. The unique risk factors described in our research can inform health care professionals in designing interventions for early detection and prevention of PPD.