This study addressed the long-standing crisis of Black severe maternal morbidity in the U.S., while the COVID-19 pandemic led to even worse outcomes. The purpose of the study was to identify significant predictors of the quality of patient-provider relationships during a birth hospitalization. The sample of Black women (N=182) gave moderate ratings for quality of patient provider relationships, and for level of trust, rapport, and communication with providers. Providers were rated as having a fair level of cultural sensitivity, competence, and humility—while 30.2% rated them as poor. For experiences of racism, discrimination and inequities in service delivery, combining categories of a “few times” and “many times,” 53.3% felt racially stereotyped or treated like a racial stereotype, 52.5% were treated with less respect than a White woman would have been, 39.7% were verbally abused or yelled at, 43.8% were scolded, ridiculed, mocked, and shamed, 47.2% felt belittled and put down, 42.7% felt threatened, coerced, lied to, and manipulated, and 46% felt their pain was not managed the same way as for a White woman. Women entered the hospital with risk factors of cardiovascular disease (20.3%), hypertension (23.6%), obesity (18.1%), and diabetes (13.7%). Further, 74.2% had COVID-19 in the past two years, 25.8% had long COVID-19, 34.1% had COVID-19 during their pregnancy, and 34.1% had COVID-19 at delivery. Medical events during their delivery hospitalization included hemorrhage (40.7%), blood clot (25.3%), and a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (25.3%). Women had high rates (over 75%) of past year depression, anxiety, and trauma—with 68.1% receiving counseling; and higher rates (over 85%) the year post-partum—with 76.9% receiving counseling. Noteworthy significant predictors of a higher quality of patient-provider relationships were higher education, higher trust/ rapport/ communication with providers, and lower global racism/ discrimination/ inequities during service delivery—while entering the hospital with lower risk factors for pregnancy-related complications (69.8% of variance predicted). The study contributes to literature on the crisis of severe maternal morbidity for Black women in the U.S, as well as factors that need to be addressed to reduce it, while offering a cache of culturally appropriate measures for ongoing research.

No description available.

No description available.

<p>Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mental health condition present in 13% of new mothers. It is a serious public health issue that profoundly impacts the health of mothers, their children, and their partners. While the short- and long-term implications of maternal mental health for children’s growth and development have been well documented, little has been written about the impact of maternal PPD on partners. In particular, the effects of PPD on new fathers have received little attention. This qualitative descriptive study examined, through the sharing of photographs by participants and in-depth interviews (n = 10), the experience of the transition to parenthood for first-time fathers whose partners have PPD. It also compared their expectations of fatherhood with the lived reality of the experience and explored fathers’ perceptions of, and access to, health services and supports. The main themes that emerged from the data analysis were: From two to three, Connecting with baby, PPD and the partner relationship, Heightened involvement with baby, and Available and desired supports. Sub-themes that captured more specific patterns in the data also were identified. The study findings have implications for establishing best practices that are inclusive of support and education for partners.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

Background Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major public health challenge and associated with poor maternal and infant health outcomes. Quality prenatal care decreases adverse outcomes in pregnancy and may reduce PPD risk factors. This study critically reviews the evidence about the role of prenatal care practices in reducing PPD prevalence across population groups and examines the association between prenatal care timing and counseling content with PPD prevalence. Methods A scoping review was completed across eight databases to synthesize evidence about prenatal care and PPD across different contextual settings. National data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) was used to examine the research questions. The key outcome was PPD symptoms as self-reported by postpartum women. Key independent variables were timing and content of prenatal care. Bivariate analyses used chi-square and t-tests, as appropriate, and a logistic regression analysis examined associations at the multivariable level while accounting sociodemographic characteristics, history of depression, and interaction effects. An issue brief was developed, triangulating findings from the scoping review and quantitative analysis. Results Forty-five studies were analyzed as a part of the scoping review and identified a strong association between robust prenatal care that included education about depression and increased awareness of PPD prevention among pregnant women. In the PRAMS analysis, women with a history of depression (aOR: 2.87; 95% CI: 2.74, 2.99) and those who initiated prenatal care in the third trimester or had no prenatal care (aOR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.85) had higher odds of PPD. Women who were not asked about depression during prenatal care had higher odds of PPD (aOR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.32). Women who were Asian, Black, and asked less than five questions on health-related topics during prenatal care were more likely to report PPD symptoms. Conclusion Blending education and counseling into routine prenatal care for pregnant women will increase awareness of depression, thereby preventing PPD. Prenatal care should, therefore, be accompanied by evidence-based systems for counseling, education, diagnosing, treatment, and referral of perinatal depression. To optimize the health of women, prenatal care should provide services and support tailored to each woman's needs.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / This study aimed to determine whether low-income women residing in a rural community in South Africa experienced any significant difference in the prevalence rates of depressive symptoms postpartum as compared to depressive symptoms prepartum. Thirty women between the ages of 16 and 38 were recruited during pregnancy from the local community clinic in Kylemore, South Africa. The women where assessed for elevated levels of depressive symptomatology using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) during pregnancy and again at three and six months postpartum. It was found that 18 (60%) of the women reported elevated levels of depressive symptomatology during the prepartum assessment, with 11 (37.9%) and 12 (48%) women reporting elevated levels of depressive symptomatology at the three months and six month postpartum assessment respectively. It was further found that the sample from the current study did not experience any significant difference in the rate of depressive symptomatology from the prepartum assessment to either of the postpartum assessments. The results also suggests that a relationship exists between the levels of depressive symptomatology prepartum and the levels of depressive symptomatology postpartum, as those women who experienced high levels of depressive symptomatology during pregnancy continued to show high levels of depressive symptomatology at the postpartum assessments. The findings from the current study thus suggest that the classification of postpartum depression as a unique and separate entity, that differs from depression occurring in women at other times and from depression as experienced by men, may be misleading. The term suggests a depression that develops following childbirth, while in the current study it seemed that when depressive symptoms were reported postpartum, they were also already apparent during pregnancy. The findings from the current study therefore suggest that the existence of postpartum depression as a distinct diagnosis or illness is problematic – a suggestion that has frequently been suggested in the literature (Aderibigbe, Gureje, & Omigbodun, 1993; Chandran, Tharyan, Muliyil & Abraham, 2002; Cooper, Campbell, Day, Kennerly & Bond, 1988; Cox, Murray & Chapman, 1993; O’Hara, Zekoski, Phillips & Wright, 1990; Patel, Rodrigues, & DeSouza, 2002).

Bakgrund: Under graviditeten och efter förlossningen genomgår kvinnan en period som innebär en stor förändring i hennes liv och det är vanligt att uppleva ett brett spektrum av olika känslor. Den första tiden efter förlossningen kan symtom på allvarliga psykiska hälsoproblem utlösas, såsom en depression. Depression hos nyblivna mödrar, en så kallad postpartumdepression, har sedan 1990-talet ökat i intresse inom hälso- och sjukvården, inom omvårdnadsforskningen samt bland föräldrar.   Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att belysa BVC-sköterskors upplevelser av att möta mödrar med symtom på postpartumdepression.   Metod: En induktiv ansats användes där datamaterialet analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Datamaterialet utgjordes av intervjuer och åtta BVC-sköterskor intervjuades.   Resultat: Ur analysen av datamaterialet framkom fyra kategorier: etablera ett gott samarbete, ge råd och vägledning, att använda instrument som underlättar och kommunikativa hinder i arbetat samt tillhörande underkategorier.   Konklusion: För att kunna möta mödrar med symtom på postpartumdepression bör BVC-sköterskorna etablera ett bra samarbeta. Det första hembesöket var också betydelsefullt för att kunna etablera ett bra samarbete mellan BVC-sköterskorna och mödrarna. Att använda instrument såsom EPDS-formuläret, underlättade samtalet och var ett viktigt verktyg för BVC-sköterskorna. / Background:  During pregnancy and after childbirth the woman go through a period that represents a major change in her life and it´s common to experience a wide range of different emotions. The first time after birth, symptoms of serious mental health problems can be triggered, such as depression. Depression in new mothers, known as postpartum depression, has increased in interest since the 1990s in health care, nursing research and among parents.   Aim: The aim of the study was to illustrate Child health care nurses’ experiences of encounting mothers’ with symptoms of postpartum depression.   Method: Qualitative content analysis with inductive approach was used and data were collected through interviews. Eight Child health care nurses’, CHCN, were interviewed.   Results: Four categories emerged from the analysis: establish a good collaboration, provide advice and guidance, to use instruments that facilitate and communicative barriers at work and associated subcategorys.     Conclusion: In order to meet mothers with symptoms of postpartum depression CHCN need to establish a good collaboration. The first home visit was also important to establish a good collaboration between CHCN and mothers. The use of instruments such as EPDS, facilitate the conversation and was an important tool for the CHCN.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The topic of perinatal depression (i.e. depression during and after pregnancy) remains a subject of continued research interest, as a broad literature body reports that a large proportion of women suffering from this mental disorder do not receive appropriate treatment. This is worrisome, firstly, because mental health treatment is often readily available to the public and at no cost. Secondly, untreated perinatal depression not only holds dangerous consequences for the mother but also for the infant and the rest of the family. It is therefore important to identify those factors that act as barriers to mental health care utilization for perinatal depression. Although this is a persistent problem within the South African context, to date, little is known about the barriers to the utilization of available mental health services experienced among pregnant South African women. For this reason, the Perinatal Mental Health Project (PMHP) aims to provide mental health services at the same location where women receive obstetric services. However, despite their efforts, the number of women who decline available treatment is still of great concern. The present study offers a unique perspective on counselling for perinatal depression appointment-keeping barriers as it provides a holistic view of these barriers that exist not only within the women but also in their multi-levelled environments. Secondly, it addresses the problem of nonattendance to mental health care treatment offered by the PMHP and consequently also addresses the gap in South African research on the topic. The sample for this study was selected from PMHP files of those patients who failed to attend scheduled counselling appointments. The participants included in this study were selected by means of purposeful sampling to participate in face-to-face and telephonic semi-structured interviews. Participants were assured of confidentiality and anonymity. The semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed after which transcriptions were entered into MS Word for textual analysis. Transcriptions were thematically analysed. The main themes that emerged from the present study included individual-related barriers, social-related barriers, institution-related barriers, community-related barriers and poverty-related barriers. The results of the present study reflect the motivations for depressive pregnant women to decline available and free mental health services provided by the PMHP, according to five main themes. These themes were then discussed according to Bronfenbrenner’s (1977; 1979) Ecological Systems Theory, which categorised the main themes identified according to the different systems operating within the patient’s environment, i.e. the individual-, micro-, meso-, exo-, and macrosystem. The individual system comprised the individual-related barriers, which included poor mental health, and ambivalent feelings toward the pregnancy. The microsystem comprised the social-related barriers, which included low social support and self-help strategies. Community-related barriers were considered within the mesosystem of the patient’s ecological environment, with stigma and pity as sub-barrier. The exosystem comprised the institution-related barriers, including referral protocol barriers, lack of information provided by the nurses, and nurses’ attitudes as experienced by participants. Lastly, poverty-related barriers were considered within the macrosystem, with financial life hardship, constant child-care demands, and transportation barriers as sub-barriers. The significance of this study lies in the original perspective offered on mental health care appointment-keeping behaviour within the South African context. Future research could, in addition to conducting interviews with hospital patients, include health care professionals and focus groups as this will allow for triangulation of the perspectives of all significant players. Also, having identified the problems and concerns with regards to attending counselling appointments, future research direction may be aimed at creating interventions designed to reduce the identified barriers to mental health care service use. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Perinatale depressie (d.w.s. depressie voor en na swangerskap) bly ʼn onderwerp van voortdurende navorsings belang, aangesien ʼn breë navorsingsveld aandui dat ʼn groot proporsie van vroue wat aan hierdie geestesversteuring lei, nie die gepaste behandeling ontvang nie. Dit is kommerwekkend, eerstens, aangesien behandeling vir geestesgesondheid meestal openlik verkrygbaar is aan almal sonder enige koste. Tweedens, onbehandelde perinatale depressie hou nie slegs gevaarlike gevolge vir die moeder in nie, maar ook vir die baba en die res van die gesin. Dit is daarom belangrik om daardie faktore te identifiseer wat as hindernisse optree tot geestesgesondheid sorg diensgebruik vir perinatale depressie. Alhoewel dit ʼn voortdurende probleem binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks is, is daar tot op hede geen navorsing wat hindernisse tot gebruik van beskikbare geestesgesondheidsdienste bekend gemaak nie, veral wat ervaar word onder swanger Suid-Afrikaanse vroue nie. Vir hierdie rede, beoog die Perinatal Geestesgesondheid Projek (Perinatal Mental Health Project - PMHP) om geestesgesondheidsdienste te lewer by dieselfde plek waar vroue verloskundige dienste kan ontvang. Nietemin, ten spyte van hul pogings, is die getal vroue wat beskikbare behandeling van die hand wys steeds van groot kommer. Dié studie bied ʼn unieke perspektief op hindernisse tot berading vir perinatale depressie afspraak-ooreenkoms gedrag, aangesien dit ʼn algehele uitkyk bied op hindernisse wat nie slegs binne die vroue bestaan nie, maar ook in hul veelvlakkige omgewings bestaan. Tweedens, spreek dit die probleem van nie-bywoning van geestesgesondheidsbehandelingsdienste wat aangebied word deur die PMHP aan en gevolglik ook die gaping wat binne Suid-Afrikaanse navorsing rakende dié onderwerp bestaan. Die steekproef vir die studie was gekies van PMHP lêers van daardie pasiënte wat nie hul geskeduleerde terapie afsprake bygewoon het nie. Die deelnemers ingesluit in die studie is deur middel van doelgerigte-steekproefneming geselekteer om aan aangesig-tot-aangesig of telefoniese semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude deel te neem. Deelnemers is van hul vertroulikheid en anonimiteit van die proses verseker. Die semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude was oudio-opgeneem en transkripsies is daarvan gemaak, waarna die transkripsies in MS Word gelaai is vir tekstuele analise. Transkripsies is tematies geanaliseer. Die hooftemas wat na vore gekom het, sluit in individuele-verwante hindernisse, sosiale-verwante hindernisse, institusie-verwante hindernisse, gemeenskapsverwante hindernisse en armoede-verwante hindernisse. Resultate van dié studie reflekteer die motiverings van depressiewe swanger vroue om beskikbare en gratis geestesgesondheidsdienste wat verskaf is deur die PMHP van die hand te wys, volgens die vyf hooftemas. Hierdie temas is toe volgens Bronfenbrenner (1972) se Ekologiese Sisteemteorie verdeel in die verskillende sisteme teenwoording in die pasiënt se omgewing, naamlik die individuele-, mikro-, meso-, ekso-, en makrosisteem. Die individuele sisteem het die individuele-verwante hindernisse ingesluit, wat swak geestesgesondheid, en teenstrydige gevoelens teenoor die swangerskap omvat het. Die mikrosisteem het die sosiale-verwante hindernisse ingesluit, wat swak sosiale ondersteuning, en self-help strategieë omvat het. Gemeenskapsverwante hindernisse is binne die mesosisteem van die pasiënt se ekologiese omgewing beskou, en het stigma en jammerte as sub-hindernisse ingesluit. Die eksosisteem het die institusie-verwante hindernisse ingesluit, wat verwysing protokol hindernisse, gebrek aan inligting verskaf deur die verpleegsters, en verpleegsters se houdings soos ervaar deur die deelnemers omvat het. Laastens is die armoede-verwante hindernisse binne die makrosisteem beskou, en het finansiële lewens swaarkry, konstante kindersorg eise, en vervoer-verwante struikelblokke as sub-hindernisse ingesluit het. Die belang van dié studie lê in die oorspronklike perspektief van geestesgesondheidsbehandeling dienste afspraak-ooreenkoms gedrag binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks, wat aangebied is. Toekomstige navorsing kan, bykomend tot die voer van onderhoude met hospitaal pasiënte, fokus daarop om gesondheidsorg kenners en fokus groepe in te sluit, aangesien dit die triangulasie van perspektiewe moontlik maak van al die belangrike rolspelers. Ook, aangesien die probleem en bekommernisse rakende bywoning van terapie afsprake reeds geïdentifiseer is, mag toekomstige navorsing in die rigting beweeg met die doel om intervensies te omskep wat beoog om die geïdentifiseerde hindernisse tot geestesgesondheidsorg diensgebruik te verminder.

Syfte: Att studera bvc-sjuksköterskors erfarenheter av familjer med förekomst av nedstämdhet efter förlossning. Bakgrund: Nyblivna föräldrar kan drabbas av förlossningsdepression och nedstämdhet efter förlossning. Detta kan störa den viktiga anknytningen till barnet och ge långsiktiga negativa konsekvenser för barnets fortsatta kognitiva och känslomässiga utveckling. Barnhälsovårdens uppdrag är att förebygga ohälsa hos barnet, bedriva hälsofrämjande och föräldrastödjande samtal, samt bidra till hälsosamma relationer inom familjen. Enligt familjefokuserad omvårdnad ses familjen som en enhet och om en familjemedlem drabbas av ohälsa påverkar det hela familjen. Design: En kvalitativ design valdes för studien. Metod: Sju bvc-sjuksköterskor intervjuades våren 2017 och den insamlade datan analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Bvc- sjuksköterskornas erfarenhet är att föräldrarollen påverkas vid nedstämdhet vilket i sin tur kan påverkar anknytningen till barnet och relationerna inom familjen. Bvc-sjuksköterskornas erfarenheter visar också att det finns fördelar med att involvera hela familjen, men att bvc- sjuksköterskorna inte alltid känner sig trygga i att erbjuda stöd till familjen relaterat till brist på utbildning och erfarenhet. Bvc-sjuksköterskor erfar också att det är en utmanande arbetssituation med nedstämda familjer och att det kan vara svårt att upptäcka dem. Slutsats: Bvc-sjuksköterskors erfarenheter är att hela familjen påverkas vid en nedstämdhet. Det skulle vara betydelsefullt att inom bvc-verksamhet se hela familjen som en enhet eftersom alla i en familj påverkar varandra, men också för att familjemedlemmarnas mående kan vara avgörande för barnets framtida hälsa och utveckling. / Aim: To study child health care nurses’ experiences of families with prevalence of depression after childbirth. Background: New parents may suffer from maternity and paternity postpartum depression ranging from mild to severe. This can interfere with the important bonding to the child and give long-term negative consequences for the child's continued cognitive and emotional development. The child health service’s mission is to prevent childhood illness, to promote health and support parents, and contribute to healthy relationships within the family. According to family-centered care, the family is seen as a unit and if one family member suffers from ill health, it affects the whole family. Design: A qualitative design was chosen for the study. Method: Seven child health care nurses were interviewed in spring 2017 and the collected data was analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Findings: The child health care nurses’ experiences show that parental influence is affected by depression, which in turn can affect the relationship with the child and the relationships within the family. The experiences of the child health care nurses also show that there are benefits of involving the whole family, but the child health care nurses do not always feel confident in providing support to the family due to lack of education and experiences. The child health care nurses also experience that working with depressed families is a challenging work situation and that they can be hard to detect. Conclusion: The child health care nurses’ experience is that the whole family is affected at a postpartum depression. It would be beneficial for the child health care nurses to tend to the whole family as a single unit, partly because everyone inside the family affect each other but also because the overall well-being of the family as a whole can be crucial to the child’s future health and progress.

A depressão pós-parto (DPP) caracteriza-se por sintomas, no puerpério, como tristeza, falta de interesse ou prazer nas atividades, irritabilidade, choro freqüente e sensação de ser incapaz de lidar com novas situações. No Brasil, foram encontradas prevalências de 13,4% a 37,1% para o transtorno. Uma hipótese evolucionista prevê que os sintomas da DPP poderiam modelar a tomada de decisão da mãe sobre o investimento parental em situações relacionadas a custos para sua adaptação. Em caso de problemas de saúde da criança e/ou falta de suporte social, pode ser adaptativo reduzir o investimento parental, se esse comportamento motivar os indivíduos da rede social da mãe e do bebê (como o pai da criança e outros familiares) a aumentarem seu investimento. O presente estudo objetivou investigar, sob perspectiva evolucionista, prevalência e fatores de risco para a DPP em mães de baixa renda do distrito do Butantã, em São Paulo. Foram realizadas entrevistas estruturadas em três momentos: terceiro trimestre de gestação; 0-3 dias após o parto; e 2-4 meses após o parto. Participaram da primeira etapa 245 gestantes, usuárias do sistema público de saúde, que responderam a Escala de Apoio Social (EAS), a Escala de Apego Adulto de Colins (EAA) e outras questões estruturadas. Na última etapa, 138 das 245 participantes iniciais responderam a Escala de Depressão Pós-Parto de Edimburgo (EDPE), que avalia a intensidade de sintomas depressivos no puerpério, através de auto-relato. Análises fatoriais indicaram validade satisfatória da EDPE, da EAS e da EAA para a amostra estudada. Adotando-se ponto de corte 11/12 na EDPE, encontrou-se prevalência de DPP de 26,8%. Para verificar os fatores de risco, as mães foram classificadas em três grupos, por percentil, conforme sua pontuação na EDPE: baixa (0-4), média (5-10) e alta (11-29). O grupo de pontuação alta associou-se significativamente a: escolaridade até Ensino Fundamental completo; a mãe ter filhos com parceiros anteriores; número elevado de filhos, de crianças morando na casa e razão elevada entre o número de crianças e de adultos vivendo na casa; histórico prévio de depressão; relatar não desejar a gestação; relatar intercorrências na gestação; relatar baixo nível de afeto e preocupação e elevado nível de rejeição e punição provenientes dos próprios pais durante a infância; avaliar o ambiente familiar que teve na infância como estressante; relatar nível alto de conflito com o pai do bebê; perceber baixo suporte social; e padrões de apego com características de ansiedade nos relacionamentos e dificuldade de contar com a rede de apoio social. Uma Regressão Logística Múltipla resultou em um modelo preditivo para a intensidade dos sintomas depressivos após o parto no qual foram significativas as variáveis: fatores da EAA Ansiedade nos relacionamentos e Dificuldade de contar com a rede de apoio; Fator da EAS Suporte emocional e de informação; e se o pai do bebê estava empregado. A associação encontrada entre percepção de baixo apoio social na gestação e sintomas mais intensos de DPP está de acordo com a teoria evolucionista. Os fatores de risco encontrados podem orientar políticas públicas de prevenção e tratamento da DPP. / Postpartum depression (PPD) is characterized by symptoms, during the puerperium, like sadness, lack of interest and pleasure in activities, irritability, tearfulness, and the sensation of being unable to deal with new situations. In Brazil, studies report prevalences ranging from 13,4% to 37,1% for PPD. An evolutionary hypothesis predicts that the symptoms of PPD could influence the decision of the mother about her parental investment in situations related to costs to her adaptation. In case of childs health problem and/or lack of social support, it could be adaptive for the mother to reduce the parental investment, if this behavior could motivate individuals of the social net (e.g., the babys father and other relatives) to increase their investment. This study aimed to investigate from an evolutionary framework the prevalence and risk factors for PPD in low-income mothers from the Butantã district, in São Paulo. Structured interviews were carried out in three moments: during the third trimester of pregnancy; 0-3 days after delivery; and 2-4 months after delivery. 245 pregnant women who used the Public Health System participated of the first part of the study answering the Social Support Scale (SSS), the Colins Adult Attachment Scale (AAS) and other structured questions. In the last part of the study, 138 of the 245 mothers answered the Edinbourgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). This scale evaluates the intensity of depressive symptoms during the puerperium using self-report. Factor analyses indicated that the EPDS, the EAS and the EAA had satisfactory reliability. Using the cut-point of 11/12 in the EPDS, the prevalence of PPD was 26.8%. To find out the risk factors, the mothers were classified in three groups according to their scores on the EPDS: low (0-4), medium (5-10) and high (11-29). The high score group was sociated with studying until the end of the primary school; mothers having sons and/or daughters with previous partners; having a great number of sons and/or daughters, a great number of sons and/or daughters living in the home and a large number of adults : number of children living in the home ratio; previous history of depression; reporting not wanting the pregnancy; reporting pregnancy intercurrences; reporting low levels of affect and worry and high levels of rejection and punishment from the parents during childhood; evaluating the familiar environment during childhood as stressful; reporting high level of conflict in the relationship with the babys father; perceiving low social support; and patterns of attachment characterized by anxiety in relationships and difficulty in counting on the social net. A Multiple Logistic Regression resulted in a predictive model to the intensity of the depressive symptoms after delivery. The significant variables were: the factors of AAS Anxiety in relationships and Dificulty in counting on the social net; the factor Emotional and information support of the SSS; and whether the babys father is employed or not. The association between perception of low social support during pregnancy and high levels of PPD symptoms is in accordance with the evolutionary theory. The risk factors found on this research could guide the Public Health Programs in the prevention and treatment of PPD.