DETERMINING THE STATUS OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN WOMEN DURING PREGNANCY AND IN THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD

Problem Statement: The anxiety and depression experienced during pregnancy and in the postpartum period is of considerable importance in terms of the health of the mother and her infant. Purpose of the Study: The aim of this study was to determine the status of anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Methods: The research sample consisted of 100 primiparae and 100 multiparae who had consented to participate in the study. Data was collected with a questionnaire, the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Findings and Results: It was found that during pregnancy and in the postpartum period, primiparae experienced a higher level of state and trait anxiety compared to multiparae and that the rate of depression was higher in multiparae compared to primiparae. Conclusions and Recommendations: It was determined that primiparae experienced more anxiety than multiparae (p<0.05) during pregnancy and in the postpartum period and that multiparae experienced depression at a higher rate. Therefore, our recommendation is that healthcare personnel provide women with a regular program of education and consulting services to meet their needs during pregnancy and in the postpartum period.