Assessment of postpartum depression in refugee women from Ukraine who gave birth abroad after the the beginning of large-scale war
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15574/PP.2025.3(103).99107Keywords:
Edinburg Postpartum Depression Scale, pregnancy, refugees, Ukraine, warAbstract
The Russian military aggression against Ukraine in February 2022 became the cause of biggest humanitarian crime. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a type of mood disorder of pregnant and postpartum women. It was earlier reported that depression of pregnant women is increased in a combatant zone, while effects of war on pregnant refugee and displaced women are less studied.
Aim - to determine the features of the emotional state of temporarily displaced Ukrainian women who gave birth in Lithuania in spring-autumn 2022, and compare it with the state of Lithuanian women who were not directly affected by war.
Materials and methods. The study was conducted by surveying Ukrainian refugee women (UG) and Lithuanian women (LG) who gave birth in maternity units of Lithuania, using Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), the questionnaire elaborated for evaluation of social and medical peculiarities of mother-child pair in early postpartum period as well as medical records of maternity unit.
Results. The average mean scores of EPDS in UG were significantly higher compared to LG. 42.0% of UG exceeded the threshold for the high risk of PPD (≥13). UG, who arrived in Lithuania during the war because of close relatives legally working in Lithuania, had lower EPDS scores to compare to UG who came from combatant zones and who did not have close relatives.
Conclusions. Support of closest relatives and convenient surrounding is important for women’s emotional state during the vulnerable period of maternity and especially during the crisis time.
The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the institution’s local ethics committee. Informed consent was obtained from patients.
No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.
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